Existing Employment Land and Premises

4.21 It is considered important to keep those employment sites that have not previously had environmental or traffic problems. Existing industrial and business sites and premises need to be retained in such use in order to provide a reasonable supply of employment opportunities and minimise the development of new greenfield sites. The protection of sites in locations easily accessible for the workforce by foot and public transport is particularly important. Safeguarding sites for employment uses also gives confidence to industrial and business investors in securing improvement to, or the redevelopment of, land and premises for industrial and business uses. The fact that premises are vacant will not be accepted as sufficient justification for allowing re-development to proceed. Where offices are proposed on existing employment land or in existing employment premises, such proposals will be subject to Policy TCR1.

4.22 There are instances where industrial or business operators are creating loss of amenity to nearby residents because of noise, pollution or excessive traffic. Alternatively, a site may be extremely unsightly, to the detriment of neighbouring buildings and the local character generally. In these cases it may be preferable to encourage the business to relocate to a more suitable site.

4.23 Premises selling cars with associated workshop space and bulky building materials and trade warehouses are traditionally located in industrial areas and this is regarded as the most appropriate location. However, in the case of premises selling bulky building materials and trade warehouses, sales to the general public will either not be permitted or shall be restricted to just ancillary sales. The policy does not apply to DIY retail warehouses, which sell a wide range of goods extending beyond the heavy and bulky end of the trade, and thus appropriate conditions may be imposed on planning permissions for builders merchants and trade warehouses to limit the range and type of goods sold. Permission for car showrooms with workshops will be subject to a condition withdrawing permitted development rights in respect of the change of use of the premises to a shop.

4.24 In order to ensure a balanced economy in the borough, it is important that the supply of employment land and premises is commensurate with the number of economically active people living in the borough. Many existing employment sites and premises play an important part in St Edmundsbury’s economy as they maintain a local provision of employment opportunities and help to curb the growth in commuting. It is for these reasons that proposals involving the loss of employment sites must first demonstrate that this loss will not materially harm the existing local supply of employment land and premises.

POLICY E1: EXISTING EMPLOYMENT LAND AND PREMISES

The re-development of existing employment land and premises for existing employment and alternative employment uses will be supported, subject to satisfying other policies in the Plan.

The loss of industrial, warehousing, office and business land or premises for any purpose other than those uses will not be permitted unless:

• a) It is evident that the existing use has created overriding environmental problems; or
  b) It can be demonstrated that the proposal would not diminish unacceptably the existing local supply of land or units available.

Criterion (a) does not apply to residential development or mixed use development incorporating an element of housing

Proposals involving car showrooms with workshops, as well as bulky building materials and trade warehouses will be considered favourably on existing employment land or premises.