Crawley Borough Council adopted its updated Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document on 29 June 2026, following consultation from 8 May to 5 June. The guidance replaces the 2016 town centre document and supports the policies in the adopted Local Plan.
What the local update covers
The council describes guidance covering context and character, ground and upper floor uses, town centre living and design matters such as shopfronts and signage. It is wider than roofing. A building owner should use the council's current documents to understand the context for a proposed alteration, rather than assuming this update introduces a single rule for every roof.
Why raise it before a roof project?
If you own or manage a town centre building, roof work may sit alongside other plans for the property. A change to an upper floor, an extension or work involving visible equipment can raise different questions from a local repair. Get the intended scope written down so the relevant adviser can assess the actual proposal.
Keep roof maintenance and a wider redevelopment brief distinct. That helps avoid commissioning a small repair which a planned project will shortly remove.
Access matters on occupied buildings
For a shop or mixed-use property, discuss how the job will work around entrances, deliveries and people using the building. Identify who controls access to the roof, whether there are shared areas and which parties need to agree the work. The contractor needs that information when considering the practical scope.
Where several people have an interest in the property, a single agreed brief is particularly useful. Include the areas of roof involved and the intended outcome, supported by drawings or photographs where available.
Check the current position for the address
Before ordering materials or setting a start date for an alteration, check with Crawley Borough Council or your planning adviser what applies to the building and proposed work. Planning guidance and the separate building control process should both be considered where relevant.
Our Crawley roofing planning guide is a starting point. For the roofing scope itself, see commercial roofing and send us the property details.
Source and further reading
Crawley Borough Council: Town centre SPD, adopted 29 June 2026
The local roofing considerations above are AP Roofing Sussex’s practical commentary on this update. Guidance checked on 29 September 2026.