QUESTION 17: Do you agree with the policy approach to existing employment sites and the proposed policy wording?'

Whilst we acknowledge Draft Policy DEC3 reflects the wording of the Core Strategy Policy EC3 we consider that the final paragraph should be amended in order to clarify the approach to 'alternative uses' i.e. "if a mixed use scheme is not viable, prioritising alternative community uses, affordable housing and then market housing, subject to local needs".

A key question here is that if a mixed use scheme is shown not to be viable then it is likely that community and / or affordable housing proposals on their own will also not be viable?

In light of this we would suggest that policy is amended so that criterion iv is amended to:

"where continued employment use of a site/premises is demonstrated not to be viable, permitting complementary enabling development as part of an overall scheme to make most effective use of the property for employment purposes; if a mixed use scheme is not viable, then alternative uses will then be considered and these may include the provision of community uses, affordable housing and market housing, subject to local needs".