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Retail and Town Centre Impact Assessment

Last updated October 29, 2026.

Local validation checklist code B6

  1. When you'll need to provide this
  2. What you'll need to include
  3. Why we need it

When you'll need to provide this

You may need to include this if you're submitting your planning application to either Swale or Maidstone borough councils.

For applications submitted to Maidstone Borough Council

Proposals over 2,500sqm within the Maidstone Urban Area, proposals over 400sqm outside the Maidstone Urban Area

For applications submitted to Swale Borough Council

Proposals over 500sqm outside of a town centre as defined on the Local Plan Proposals Map.

Typical proposals

The retail and town centre impact assessment planning application requirement is typically needed when you're proposing to do any of the following:

New house; New housing development; Converting a building into homes; Change of use; Commercial development; Retail, restaurant or takeaway; Industrial or warehouse development

What you'll need to provide

What you'll need to include in your application

For applications submitted to either Swale or Maidstone borough councils

Retail Impact Assessment, including sequential test.

Why we need you to provide this

Why we need you to include this in your application.

For applications submitted to Maidstone Borough Council

Section 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2026 set out that Local Planning Authorities should ensure the vitality of town centres. For town centre use developments, which are retail, leisure and office uses, outside of town centres and not in accordance with up-to-date local plan Local Planning Authorities should require an impact assessment is carried out if the development is over a proportionate, locally set floorspace threshold or in the absence of such a threshold, 2,500sqm.

Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan Review Policy LPRCD1, provides locally set thresholds where an assessment is required for proposals over 2,500sqm within the Maidstone Urban Area and proposals over 400sqm outside the Maidstone Urban Area.

Further guidance is provided in the NPPG at the following link: at Town centres and retail - GOV.UK

For applications submitted to Swale Borough Council

In accordance with the NPPF the Council has set a local threshold of 500sqm.