| The County Structure Plan Review indicates
that priority is to be given to identifying suitable opportunities for
converting employment sites to residential use, including provision
as part of mixed use development schemes.
This requires an evaluation
of the impact of future trends on the local economy, the needs of business
and the characteristics of the Borough’s industrial
stock.
|
- The Council estimate that the current stock of employment floorspace in the Borough (excluding retail, leisure and town centre premises) is 590,000 square metres (m2).
- Over 500,000 m2 (85%) of this stock is located in the Borough’s main industrial estates with a significant proportion (37%) in warehousing units.
- Over half (55%) of premises located on industrial estates are less than 500m2 in size although there are 15 premises over 5,000 m2, equivalent to 35% of the total stock in industrial estates.
- Since 1991, the stock of employment floorspace has fallen slightly by 14,600m2 ( 2% of the total) reflecting the redevelopment of industrial sites for housing such as the Symonds Engineering Works ( 6,726m2) and Dairyglen House (3,270 m2).
- Despite the conversion of a number of office properties to residential use, there was a net gain in office (B1a) floorspace between April 1991 and March 1998 of 10,000 m2 including a major office development at Turnford Place ( 6,930 m2)
- The opportunity to re-use industrial/commercial sites for residential purposes is generally considered to be lower in the larger, more established employment areas than isolated or smaller sites.
- The potential loss of employment sites will need to be balanced against provision of opportunities to encourage new enterprise together with support for existing local businesses and key employers.
Last Updated 29th July 1998