Policy EMP3 - Local Employment Areas

Comment

Representation ID: 11332

Received: 30/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Greg Ball

The policy is generally supported, but retention of poorly maintained premises can be inappropriate in some locations where new housing has been permitted in the vicinity. Also, retaining sites in prominent locations can work against the objective of encouraging inward investment, aspirational housing and visitors to the area's attractions. A specific change to one allocation in Tipton Green is suggested.

Support

Representation ID: 13952

Received: 01/11/2021

Respondent: D2 Planning Limited

Policy EMP3 - Local Employment Areas

Support is given in principle to this policy which provides for a range of uses within Local Employment Areas. However, LCP believe that criterion 4 should be widened to allow a range of ancillary uses in these employment area. Such uses can include food and drink uses,
children’s nurseries, vets, leisure etc. The criterion should be amended accordingly.

Object

Representation ID: 43920

Received: 10/10/2021

Respondent: Barratt West Midlands

Agent: Turley Associates

3.56 Paragraph 7.34 states “Local Employment Areas are often vulnerable to pressure for redevelopment to other uses such as housing. However, the loss of too much local employment land will compromise the successful delivery of the BCP’s employment strategy”. This is contrary to draft policy DEL2 which allows for housing or employment development on previously developed land that accords with other BCP and local plan policies.
3.57 As mentioned at paragraph 3.27 of this document, the draft Local Plan does not currently include an employment protection policy or ‘test’ for applications for housing development or other types of development on employment sites. This could be incorporated in to draft policies HOU1, EMP1-EMP4, or alternatively a specific policy could be prepared.

Comment

Representation ID: 45852

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Quadrant Estates

Agent: Quadrant Estates

Policy EMP3
This Policy allocates and describes Local Employment Areas which would be a suitable allocation for the Site in the emerging Plan subject to the suggested changes below. Given the Site is a long standing, well-established commercial and industrial location it would be entirely suited to this allocation as it is characterised by “a critical mass of industrial, warehousing and service activity with good access to local markets and employees” as stated within the draft policy.

However, in order for the policy wording to ensure the short-term protection of the retail use in the short term and to allow suitable flexibility to the SIte, we propose the following amends at ‘2’ and ‘3’:
“These areas will provide for the needs of locally-based investment and will be safeguarded for the following uses;
a) Industry and warehousing (E(g)(ii), E(g)(iii)), B2 and B8 use)
b) Motor trade activities, including car showrooms and vehicle repair
c) Haulage and transfer depots
d) Trade, wholesale retailing and builders’ merchants
e) Scrap metal, timber and construction premises and yards
f) Waste collection, transfer and recycling uses as set out in Policy W3
g) any existing uses.
3) Not all areas will be suitable for all uses and any existing uses should be taken into consideration.”

Comment

Representation ID: 46187

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Vulcan Property II Limited

Agent: Maddox Planning

Supported is the inclusion of the clarification at EMP3 (3) that not all areas will be suitable for all uses.

EMP3 should include specific reference to the fact that the housing policies of the Black Country Plan include existing/former employment sites/areas that are allocated for and transitioning to residential use. Some of these existing/former employment sites/areas being brought forward for housing will be alongside other employment areas being retained in employment use. EMP3 should set out that any proposals for new uses in local employment areas that require planning permission will be considered in context of the potential impact on neighbouring land uses, both existing and proposed.