In order to meet the 3,000 new jobs required in the RSS, additional employment sites will be required, as the supply of employment land within the District is tight, any new sites will be require the release of Green Belt land. As these sites will be outside of the existing urban areas, it is unlikely that these sites will be in as sustainable locations as the existing employment sites.

The Employment Land Study recommends that any de-allocations of employment land be compensated for by the allocation of circa 18 hectares of land for new employment sites in the District.

The idea of not releasing land for residential and then releasing it for employment purposes is a contradiction, as it still requires the release of Green Belt.

With regards the site at Stambridge Mill, it is considered that this site should be safeguarded for light industrial use, instead of being redeveloped for housing; particularly, as this site is subject to a high risk of flood risk (Zone 3), and its redevelopment for residential would replace a less vulnerable use (employment) being replaced with a more vulnerable use (residential).


Reword first two paragraphs of the policy:

'Existing employment sites, which are sustainable, will be protected to ensure that they continue to provide employment generated opportunities, including the redevelopment for other employment uses.

As part of the review of existing employment sites, the Council will consider the reallocation of land at Star Land Industrial Estate, Eldon Way/ Foundry Industrial Estate and Rawreth Industrial Estate for appropriate uses, which should include a proportion of employment uses. Land capable of accommodating the business and industries that currently occupy these sites but would not be appropriate to be incorporated into their redevelopment will be allocated in new locations in accordance with Policy ED4.'