About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs/li>
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Policy options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest a variety of approaches:
- Keeping existing policy as it is
- Making small changes
- Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Policy option analysis
- A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.
Read the Jobs Topic Paper , Employment Study Evidence Base document and Economic Strategy Evidence Base for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
Explore the policy
Select a section below to read more.
9.260 The Council’s Economic Strategy seeks to support and enable the Bath and North East Somerset economy to become more prosperous, sustainable and fairer. In order to help facilitate economic prosperity and moves towards greater innovation and a more creative economy there needs to be sufficient space of varying types and scales for businesses to thrive in both well established, growing and emerging sectors. The NPPF requires that Local Plans should give significant weight to supporting economic growth and productivity. Evidence shows that there is a need for significant industrial and warehousing floorspace in the District to meet economic needs, and to accord with the Economic Strategy objectives. It is forecast that there is a need for in the range of 53,000-78,000sq m net additional industrial floorspace across the district, and circa 83,000sq m of warehousing /logistics floorspace.
9.261 The monitoring data shows a significant net loss in industrial floorspace during the current plan period. Due to high land values, particularly in Bath, there are continuing pressures for the redevelopment of existing employment sites for other higher value uses, particularly residential. At the same time, evidence shows that demand for industrial space has increased. However, there are limited site opportunities to provide new industrial floorspace, particularly in Bath. Therefore, it is important to ensure that existing sites are adequately protected to support the economy given the acute need for further industrial/ distribution space and to encourage the renewal and intensification of existing sites.
9.262 The policy approach is to safeguard strategic and locally significant industrial sites due to their economic importance to the district and in order to support a diverse and inclusive economy.
9.263 The aim is to reserve these areas for industrial, distribution and related uses only. The areas are suitable for the retention and renewal of industrial and warehousing premises and are able to accommodate a wide range of sectors including research and development (use class E(g)(ii)), creative industries, health and life sciences and a variety of general industry (Class E (g)(iii) and B2 together with warehousing/ last mile logistics (B8).
9.264 The proposed approach in relation to new industrial development and the protection of sites is as follows:
Option A
Light industrial, heavy industrial, warehousing (classes E(g)(ii),(iii), B2, B8),and builders merchants will be acceptable in principle within Strategic and Locally Significant Industrial Sites.
Development involving the loss of industrial and distribution floorspace/land will not be permitted unless the development is for a use referred to above; and would not have an adverse impact on the operation of the remaining premises, site. (Refer to Appendix 2 for list of industrial sites to be protected)
Advantages of Option A
This would assist in meeting the forecast need for industrial and warehousing /last mile logistics uses and facilitating the forecast job growth within the Plan period. This reflects the priorities of the Economic Strategy, supports the growing economic sectors and aligns with housing growth.
Disadvantages of Option A
We recognise that a change of use of one Class E use to another is not development which requires planning permission. It is in some cases beyond the planning system to resist the loss of Class E light industrial uses to other Class E uses.