Box 26 - (b) For employment land and premises
Object
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19092
Received: 11/11/2008
Respondent: Courtley Consultants Ltd
Agent: Courtley Consultants Ltd
Need to set out a strict Viability criteria against the loss of employment land. Many London Boroughs have strict Policies protecting the loss of employment sites and restricts the Change of Use to Housing.
Need to set out a strict Viability critera against the loss of empolyment land. Many London Boroughs have strict Policics protcting the loss of employment sites and restricts the Change of Use to Housing.
Object
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19112
Received: 16/01/2009
Respondent: Hastings Central Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, on behalf of Jehovah's Witnesses living in the Rother area
These representations are made in the apparent absence of any other option to comment on policy regarding places of worship.
These representations are made to establish a framework in land use planning policy that provides a basis upon which sites suitable for construction of places of worship may be obtained.
Include a policy that land allocated for employment purposes but which remains undeveloped should be considered for development of community facilities, including places of worship, in line with national and regional guidelines.
Please include a policy that land allocated for employment purposes but which remains undeveloped should be considered for development of community facilities, including places of worship, in line with the following national and regional guidance.
OPDM Diversity and Equality in Planning
Page 158, "Leicester: Monitoring of Planning Applications"
Places of worship: The planning department took a proactive approach helping with site searches. The approach was structured, with the issuing of registration forms and checking the financial viability of groups. This promoted a greater understanding of the issues, in particular the need for a local facility to serve particular faith communities. Planning policy was amended to permit the consideration of the development of places of worship on sites that had previously been reserved for employment uses. Postgraduate student research exploring housing aspirations of Asian families highlighted the importance of being located near a place of worship.
Key Lessons
A proactive and professional approach to planning applications and siting of places of worship gave confidence in the planning system to the community, promoting trust.
ODPM Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development
Page 8, paragraph 16. "Plan policies should...take into account the needs of all the community, including particular requirements relating to...religion..."
The Rother District Local Plan (adopted July 2006) Section 9. Employment Developments Policy EM2 states that regarding employment land, if "it is demonstrated that there is no prospect of its continued use for business purposes......first consideration will be given to a mixed-use development". Policy EM3 states that "Re-use and adaptation of buildings in the countryside........as community facilities that accord with Policy CF1, will be permitted provided......"
The South East Plan, page 65, POLICY RE2: EMPLOYMENT AND LAND PROVISION
Policies should provide for a range of sites and premises based on the following criteria:
v Promotion of mixed use development where appropriate and subject to replacement of land and premises lost to non-employment uses.....
The Secretary of State's Proposed Changes to the above policy states
"As an input to Local Development Documents, local authorities will undertake employment land reviews working with adjoining authorities as appropriate, and in consultation with business interests. This will include reviewing all extant allocations of employment land for their suitability to meet future needs. Where land cannot be economically developed, or which for other reasons is not suitable for employment purposes, alternative allocations may need to be made and the original land reallocated to alternative use"
"Land identified as surplus by employment land reviews may be released for other uses, including housing, provided it meets locational criteria and can contribute towards meeting identified local or strategic needs."