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| Unitary Development
Plan - Adopted 1 March 2005 |
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Chapter 9
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EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
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| 9.1 |
The Borough provides an attractive business
location through its highly educated and skilled workforce, the attractive
environment, and location in outer south west London. Its thriving
local economy is strongly based around the service and public sectors
with a high proportion of small businesses, and many self-employed
residents. However, as it forms a relatively small part of the wider
London, west and south west London economy there is significant commuting
both into and out of the Borough particularly by car. This chapter
seeks to enable existing and future businesses to remain and expand,
to protect Richmond's environment, to reduce car-borne commuting and
to enable it to remain an attractive place to visit. It should be
read in conjunction with policies in other chapters relating to job-generating
sectors such as retail and community services, which are important
to the local economy. |
| 9.2 |
Estimates by the London Research Centre
suggest that the Borough's economically active population in 1999
was 96,900. It was expected to peak at 97,500 in 2001, dropping to
96,500 in 2006 and to 93,600 in 2011. In 1991, 59% of working Borough
residents commuted to jobs outside the borough, while 48% of local
jobs were taken by in-commuters. These long journeys to work, allied
to increasing car ownership and usage have resulted in serious problems
of traffic intrusion and congestion. |
| 9.3 |
Richmond's industrial structure is fairly
typical of an outer London borough, which compared to Great Britain
has a smaller proportion of the workforce employed in manufacturing,
and a larger proportion in service sectors. 75% of the Borough's workforce
is employed in the banking and business sectors, distribution, hotels
and restaurants, and in the public sector. A relatively high proportion
of the workforce is also engaged in the 'other services' sector. |
| 9.4 |
Two-thirds of businesses are independents
or sole traders, and a further 12% are branches. Only 10% are headquarters.
Richmond businesses are generally small (63% have 0-4 employees).
There is a relatively high level of self-employment (14.6%), and a
significant amount of home working (6% of the Borough's working residents).
In December 2000, a time of economic buoyancy, the majority of local
businesses reported an increase in volume of business and over a third
had taken on more staff. |
| 9.5 |
Richmond's unemployment rate (by claimant
count) is one of the lowest in London, although this masks a higher
level of long-term unemployment. The Borough has a higher proportion
of claimants seeking work in managerial, associate professional or
clerical occupations than for London or Great Britain as a whole,
reflecting the proportion of these occupational groups in the population.
Lower proportions are seeking work in 'other occupations'. Employers
report most difficulty in recruiting sales, catering, clerical and
technical staff. The main employment areas are Central Twickenham,
Richmond Hill and Richmond Town wards which together account for 40%
of the employment. Teddington and Kew wards provide a further 19%.
Hampton Nursery and Heathfield wards have very low employment levels. |
| 9.6 |
The stock of commercial property in the
Borough is dominated by retail units of which there are over 2,000.
There are over 1,000 offices, 560 factories/workshops, and 367 catering
premises. In the ten years from 1984 - 1994 there was a decline of
150,000 sq m of factory floorspace. This now forms a relatively small
element of the Borough's employment floorspace (42,000 sq m). Total
floorspace is now shared roughly equally between offices, shops, and
warehouses, around 250,000 sq m each. The decline in employment floorspace
of all types appears to be continuing. From March 1992 to March 1996
planning permissions granted accounted for a loss of 25,000 sq m of
employment floor space (of which 9,000 sq m went to residential uses).
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| 9.7 |
Forty percent of those contacting the
Council over a sample period of 18 months seeking commercial premises
require B1 space (of which over a third seek light industrial premises).
Sixty percent of those seeking new premises were either establishing
a new business or their existing business required more space. Many
of those seeking premises had difficulty finding suitable space due
to cost and shortage of premises of appropriate size. Nearly a third
of businesses were expecting to expand by acquiring more space at
their current premises or by relocating. The majority of those businesses
moving required relatively small premises within a range of 21 to
250 sq m. |
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TOURISM
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| 9.8 |
Nationally, tourism is the second largest
industry in terms of visible exports and services, and is growing
rapidly. In 1999, 28 million visitors came to London from overseas
and other parts of the UK, spending £6.7 billion. A conservative estimate,
taken from the known visitor figures of major attractions in the Borough,
is that 16% of London's tourists will visit Richmond upon Thames at
least once during their stay. The Borough is among the most visited
areas of London, with Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and the Rugby
Football Union ground in Twickenham attracting almost 3.5 million
visitors a year. Richmond town centre and the river are also major
attractions. There are around 950 hotel bed spaces and 300 bed and
breakfast and self-catering bed spaces in the Borough catering for
both business and tourist visitors, and no camping or caravanning
sites. If the number of bed spaces could be increased, this would
encourage more day visitors to stay overnight, increasing local spending.
The outcome of the Scarborough Tourism and Economic Activity Monitor
(STEAM) project, in which the Borough is participating with other
boroughs and the Training and Enterprise Council (TEC), will increase
our understanding of the economic impact of tourism. |
| 9.9 |
This chapter is primarily concerned with
offices, industry, storage, distribution and tourism. Other uses,
which also generate substantial employment opportunities including
public service uses, are subject to policies in other chapters in
the Plan. |
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NATIONAL AND REGIONAL POLICY CONTEXT
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| 9.10 |
PPG 4 'Industrial and Commercial Development
and Small Firms' (1992) requires local authorities to support the
development of industrial and commercial activity and the setting
up and expansion of small businesses (those with fewer than 200 employees).
Plans are required to include policies that identify land for different
types of business. Local planning authorities are encouraged to adopt
measures that reduce or remove obstacles in the path of the establishment
or expansion of any form of economic activity. |
| 9.11 |
PPG 13 'Transport' (1994) advises local
authorities to move towards a better balance between employment and
population in existing urban communities in order to enable people
to work from home or within their own communities. It also advises
that opportunities are taken to develop travel intensive uses in areas
already well served by public transport or with the potential to be
well served. The guidance explicitly encourages local authorities
in their local plans to provide for the juxtaposition of employment
and residential uses. |
| 9.12 |
Regional Planning Guidance for the South
East is RPG9 (2001). A key objective is to provide a framework for
economic growth to maintain and develop the South East's competitive
position in Europe and to give employment to its people. The development
of London's role as a financial, commercial, tourist and cultural
centre is encouraged, as is the need to broaden its economic base
by supporting the manufacturing sector. There is expected to be a
change in the balance of new development in the Region from the west
to the east. Guidance highlights the need for UDP policies that allow
developments, which are responsive to economic and technological change
and new kinds of jobs, as well as policies that make workplaces more
accessible to the local unemployed. Provision for development related
to the arts, culture and entertainment and for tourism needs to be
addressed in UDPs. |
| 9.13 |
Regional Guidance for the South East (2001)
aims to build on the successful economy to enable the Region to compete
even more effectively in dynamic global markets. In particular it
aims to sustain and enhance those aspects of the Region's life that
contribute to this success and promote the best use of human resources.
It recognises the importance of environmental assets, quality of life
and accessibility. |
| 9.14 |
Strategic Guidance for London (May 1996)
requires development plan policies to: |
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(a) |
Ensure that the right conditions are met
to encourage business and industry to locate or remain in the Borough. |
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(b) |
Reduce the need to travel and ensure that
jobs and homes are accessible to each other. |
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(c) |
Support tourism by the provision of hotels
and services that serve tourists. |
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(d) |
Create and maintain a good working environment,
including minimising pollution and adverse impacts on the locality. |
| 9.15 |
Guidance emphasises the need for London
to become more attractive to industry engaged in high value-added
technologically based production. It recognises that a large number
of businesses, which are of considerable importance to the local economy
are vulnerable to development proposals from higher value uses. It
supports action by local authorities to safeguard such sites by restricting
prospective land uses to those offering employment in industry and
business classes, where there is a reasonable prospect of productive
use. |
| 9.16 |
In the context of tourism policy boroughs
are required to: consider the need for hotel development for different
price ranges; prepare policies to encourage hotels in areas that would
be acceptable for visitors; benefit the local economy and be accessible
to public transport; consider the use of existing vacant space, including
office uses and sites in town centres, for hotels; and include policies
and proposals for major conference and exhibition facilities, the
improvement of existing facilities and the development of new sites
where appropriate. |
| 9.17 |
The London Tourist Board Strategy (1997)
sought to ensure that the benefits of tourism are spread more widely
throughout London, to areas that would include the Borough. Boroughs
are called upon to assist tourism development by taking a positive
attitude towards proposals for hotel development. |
| 9.18 |
The Council's tourism strategy is set
out in Visitor Strategy for Richmond upon Thames 2001-2005, Tourism
Policy Statement. In April 1990 a new Tourism Advisory Group was established
to act as a consultative and advisory body to the Council and the
commercial tourism sector. In June 1996 the Council agreed a revised
tourism policy statement, which states: |
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"IN THE LIGHT OF TOURISM'S STATUS AS THE
SECOND LARGEST AND GROWING INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY, THE COUNCIL RECOGNISES:
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(a) |
that tourism is a major generator of wealth
and employment in the local economy and enhances the prestige of the
Borough; |
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(b) |
that tourism is expected to grow, with
increased numbers of visitors coming into the Borough; |
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(c) |
that tourism provides financial support
to attractions - restaurants, shops and other local amenities which
depend on visitor income which make the Borough such an attractive
place to live and work. |
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The Council also recognises that the inevitably
large numbers of visitors to the Borough can disadvantage local residents.
They can also harm 'natural' features such as parks and riverside." |
| 9.19 |
Therefore the Council seeks to manage
tourism by: |
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(a) |
keeping its tourism policy and activity
under review through the medium of the Tourism Advisory Group and
associated sub-groups, representatives of Council, community interests
and the local tourism industry; |
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(b) |
encouraging and promoting visits to less
well known areas of the Borough which have the capacity to cope with
additional visitors; |
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(c) |
encouraging visitors to come out of season;
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(d) |
encouraging the provision of additional
bed spaces in order that visitors can stay overnight and for short
breaks; |
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(e) |
influencing public transport operators
to maximise the effectiveness of services and to seek to ensure provision
of appropriate tourist services; |
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(f) |
encouraging visitors to use public transport,
river transport, cycling and cycle paths, and walking and ferry services
to and from the Borough; |
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(g) |
informing local residents of the benefits
of tourism to the Borough and encouraging them to spend their leisure
time in the Borough, as well as promoting the Borough's attractions
in neighbouring boroughs; |
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(h) |
minimising the conflict between, and harmonising,
the interests of visitors and residents; |
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(i) |
encouraging tourists to stay longer, and
visitors to stay overnight; |
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(j) |
securing improvements in the Borough's
facilities and environment through private sector investment in tourism;
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(k) |
minimising the adverse effects tourism
may have on the environment; |
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(l) |
enhancing the visitors' experience, e.g.
by provision of information, encouragement to visit other attractions
in the Borough, promotion of walks, river transport, theatres and
the arts etc; |
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(m) |
working closely with the London Tourist
Board and neighbouring boroughs to harmonise policy and promotional
activity; |
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(n) |
helping to provide new attractions where
these will bring benefits to the Borough. |
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
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| 9.20 |
Included in the Council's Economic Development
Strategy 2001-2003, is the commitment to promote a diverse, vibrant
and socially inclusive economy. The Council's priority economic development
goals during the life of this strategy are: to retain existing firms
and attract new firms to the Borough; promote learning for all; to
maintain and improve environmental quality in the borough; and to
tackle social exclusion through economic development and skill's development. |
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STRATEGY
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| 9.21 |
The Council recognises that the Borough
has an important role within the wider economy of London. In determining
the overall level and types of employment floor space to be pursued
through the Plan, the Council has attempted to strike a balance between
the need to facilitate the continued growth of the local economy,
and the need to maintain the residential character of the Borough,
to avoid excessive increases in traffic and congestion, and provide
employment and business opportunities for local residents. |
| 9.22 |
The strategy is broadly aimed at maintaining
the Borough's relative position in the wider economy and labour market
through the retention of all land that currently or previously provided
jobs in employment use where possible and desirable. Although there
is evidence that jobs are increasingly attracting people from outside
the Borough, it is an underlying principle of the UDP to cut down
the need to travel. High transport costs, increased use of IT, increasing
congestion and more women entering the workforce mean that a choice
of jobs should be kept for those who may decide they would prefer
to work locally now or in the future. In addition there is a high
propensity for local residents to set up their own businesses and
therefore there is a need for a range of premises to be retained and
provided. The Council intends therefore to maintain the existing dispersed
pattern of employment opportunities. However, in order to minimise
the use of cars for work journeys, intensification of employment use
on existing sites will generally be restricted to those which are
well served by public transport and have on-street parking controls.
Jobs in locations accessible by public transport will provide employment
opportunities for residents living in parts of London where unemployment
is higher and personal mobility relatively low. |
| 9.23 |
The policies for business development
are based on the principle of encouraging development to provide for
growth of local businesses and small firms. |
| 9.24 |
Smaller scale development will be acceptable
in mixed use and residential areas in order to provide local services
and help sustain local shopping and other services, to provide a reasonable
spread of jobs throughout the borough, and provide work space for
local residents within walking distance from home. Encouragement will
be given to the provision of small units. |
| 9.25 |
Where possible, the Council will seek
to retain and encourage the provision of industrial, storage and distribution
uses, where appropriately located, in order to maintain diversity
in the local economy and local jobs, and to protect local services
(for instance car repair). |
| 9.26 |
The Council will also seek to retain river-related
industrial sites in industrial or other river-related uses. The policies
on tourism in the Plan pursue the land use aspects of the Council's
tourism policy statement. There is a need to provide facilities at
locations that are accessible by public transport, thereby minimising
the need for coach, car or taxi travel and the adverse effects of
tourism on residents. |
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| 9.27 |
OBJECTIVES
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- To foster economic growth that is compatible with the Council's
policies on transportation and the conservation of the environment
and provides locally accessible employment opportunities.
- To retain existing employment sites and where these are proving
to be seriously detrimental to the amenities of the surrounding
area, to consider an appropriate development and/or change of
use that would continue to provide some form of employment opportunities
[or community benefit] for local residents.
- To encourage the provision of sites for general and special
industrial and warehousing uses in appropriate locations where
this is compatible with the environment.
- To provide for the needs of existing local and small firms on
appropriate sites.
- To ensure that upon redevelopment for employment uses every
opportunity is taken to enhance the environment.
- To restrict significant increases in employment floor space
to sites which are well served by public transport and have on-street
parking controls and are needed to provide some significant planning
benefit.
- To work with developers and employers to ensure that new and
existing developments contribute to discourage inessential journeys
by car, and encourage commuting by foot, cycle and public transport.
- To ensure that developments are designed to meet the requirements
of people with special needs.
- To improve the environment of residential areas adversely affected
by employment uses.
- To provide opportunities for home working and live-work units
as long as there is no loss of residential units.
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In relation to tourism: |
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- To seek to maximise advantages and minimise disadvantages brought
to the Borough by visitors and tourists.
- To encourage overnight stays by visitors by giving favourable
consideration to proposals for the provision of suitable accommodation
in appropriate locations.
- To ensure that tourism does not prejudice the environmental
quality of the Borough.
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POLICIES FOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
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EMP 1 - NEW DEVELOPMENT |
| 9.28 |
Applications for employment
development will be considered against the following: |
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(a) |
their accessibility by
public transport and relationship with the primary and secondary road
network, and the cycle network; |
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(b) |
the traffic generated by
the development being consistent with the existing road capacity and
traffic flow requirements; |
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(c) |
the environmental conditions
which would be associated with the development; |
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(d) |
the provision of full access
for people with disabilities in accordance with policy BLT 12; |
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(e) |
the retention of non-employment
uses encouraged in other policies; |
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(f) |
the provision of facilities
for cyclists; |
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(g) |
the provision of childcare
facilities; and |
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(h) |
the provision of premises
suitable to meet the needs of small firms. |
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| 9.29 |
The purpose of this policy is to ensure
that development for employment uses is related to the employment
needs of the Borough and that any commuting to the development does
not cause undue environmental problems in terms of traffic congestion,
on-street parking, noise and fumes, etc. In appropriate cases developers
will be expected to provide a transport assessment and a travel plan.
Part (d) seeks the provision of access for people with disabilities
in accordance with policy BLT 12 in order to promote the Council's
policy on equality of opportunity and make the fullest use of scarce
labour resources. |
| 9.30 |
The Council is particularly anxious to
encourage provision for small firms as this represents the fastest
growing area of the local economy and affords an opportunity for residents
to set up their own business, and perhaps work closer to home. |
| 9.31 |
Child care facilities enable more residents
to enter the labour market. In order to enhance employment opportunities
of residents with child care responsibilities, the provision of workplace
child care facilities will be encouraged. When considering significant
new employment generating proposals, in particular larger schemes
above a threshold of 2,500 sq m or 100 jobs, the Council will seek
to negotiate the provision of child care facilities or an appropriate
financial contribution. |
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EMP 2 - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS |
| 9.32 |
Planning permission will
normally be permitted for business developments (B1 uses) which are
not in conflict with other plan policies and provided that: |
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(a) |
the scale of development
is compatible with the level of existing or potential public transport
accessibility and the on-street parking situation; |
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(b) |
the development will not
cause adverse environmental impact on surrounding areas or on residential
amenity; |
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(c) |
the scale, bulk and appearance
of the proposal is compatible with the character of its surrounding; |
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(d) |
provision is made for servicing,
car and cycle parking and access in accordance with relevant Council
standards. |
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| 9.33 |
The Business Use Class B1 of the 1987
Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order means that businesses'
space should be flexible enough to be used for light industrial, research
and office purposes, and be compatible with residential areas. The
Council wishes to encourage such development in the Borough in order
to provide jobs and opportunities for business development in all
areas. Such developments can result in significant environmental improvements
and provide for a range of business opportunities for which there
is a real demand, and provide employment for local people. A significant
element of new business start-ups by local people, require office-type
space, generally in units of less than 250 sq m. Developments that
provide units of this size are particularly encouraged. |
| 9.34 |
Business developments generally involve
the intensive use of sites with significant travel generation, therefore
it is important that major new developments should be located in areas
which are highly accessible by public transport (normally the town
centres) or where public transport can be suitably enhanced and that
these areas have in place a controlled parking zone. The other mixed
use zones also have some public transport services and smaller scale
developments are particularly appropriate to provide local services
and help support local shops. |
| 9.35 |
Very small workplaces, particularly offices
and studios, which provide local employment and/or services are compatible
with residential areas and can potentially reduce travel. They are
no more likely to impact on the amenity of the area than if the site
was to be developed as housing. Isolated shops in residential areas
may also be suitable for conversion to small-scale business uses subject
to TC 7. |
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EMP 3 - PROVISION,
IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIAL, AND STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
PREMISES |
| 9.36 |
Favourable consideration
will be given to applications for the development improvement, expansion
or continued use on a permanent basis of existing industrial, storage
and distribution premises provided that: |
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(a) |
the occupation of the site
for such uses is not unduly detrimental to the amenities of occupiers
of surrounding property; |
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(b) |
the proposal would not
conflict with other relevant policies of the plan. |
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In considering proposals
the Council will take into account the need, if any, to improve the
physical environment of the area. |
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| 9.37 |
This policy is to encourage firms to remain
and expand within the Borough, thus ensuring that the variety and
choice of employment opportunities is maintained. The Council does
however, wish to discourage the unnecessary redevelopment of premises
in order to maximise the use of resources and maintain the stock of
cheaper accommodation. |
| 9.38 |
The Council attaches a high priority to
improving the physical environment, and is anxious to avoid the problems
which are occasionally encountered because of the juxtaposition of
industry and other uses. When considering proposals for the rebuilding
or expansion of existing premises the Council will endeavour to secure
improvements which could include the following: |
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(a) |
the landscaping or screening of existing
unsightly buildings or features on the site; |
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(b) |
improved access and provision of parking
and servicing on the site; |
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(c) |
the renovation, improvement or removal
of existing unsightly buildings on the site; |
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(d) |
the amelioration of environmental problems
(e.g. the reduction of noise by sound insulation of existing buildings
and more effective control over pollutants); |
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(e) |
restrictions on hours of working and delivery
times. |
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(f) |
the improvement and retention of riverside
industrial uses. |
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EMP 4 - RETENTION OF
EMPLOYMENT USES |
| 9.39 |
The Council will require
employment land, or sites or premises which were last used for employment
purposes to remain in employment use providing they are compatible
with the amenity of the surrounding area and access to the site is
adequate. |
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Where a particular business
operation ceases for environmental or other reasons, re-use or redevelopment
of the site for B1 purposes will by definition be acceptable in a
residential area and will be a normal requirement. The use of employment
land for other purposes would only be acceptable if: |
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i) |
a property is vacant and
is returning to its former residential use such as in the case of
upper floors above shops; |
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ii) |
the existing premises has
severe site restrictions in terms of access and servicing arrangements
which would make its continued employment use inappropriate; or |
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iii) |
the location of the site
has poor accessibility by public transport and its continued employment
use would generate large numbers of journeys to work by the private
car; |
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iv) |
there is provision of evidence
that full and proper marketing of the site at realistic prices both
for the existing use and for redevelopment (if appropriate) for other
employment purposes over an extended period has been unsuccessful. |
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A mixed-use scheme can
maintain or increase employment on the site. Each proposal will be
considered on its merits. The Council will take account of the following
factors when considering mixed use applications: |
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(a) |
the amount of employment
floorspace; |
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(b) |
the type and mix of uses; |
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(c) |
likely access, parking
and traffic implications; |
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(d) |
quality of the design; |
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(e) |
compatibility with the
policies for other land uses; |
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(f) |
the maintenance and improvement
of the quality of the physical environment and the character of the
area. |
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| 9.40 |
The Borough has no industrial areas designated
in the UDP, relatively limited employment floorspace, and many small
sites scattered across mixed use and residential areas which accommodate
a significant amount of local employment and business development
opportunities. There is pressure from residential and retail uses
to locate on employment land, and yet there is a shortage of sites
available for new business development for which there is strong demand.
This situation is reflected throughout South London. |
| 9.41 |
This policy is therefore contributing
to the economic prosperity of the Borough by encouraging the recycling
of brownfield sites for new employment activities. It aims to ensure
that employment sites are located close to residential areas to provide
valuable local job opportunities and services easily accessed by local
people and reducing the need to travel in accordance with policy in
PPG 13. Cumulative loss of employment sites will have an adverse effect
on business and employment opportunities, and on the character of
the Borough. The loss of these sites is not therefore justified. Where
an existing employment use of a site within a predominantly residential
area is causing detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of
noise, vibration, smell, fumes, dust, etc the Council will seek improvements,
in order to overcome the nuisance caused to residential neighbours.
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| 9.42 |
Where continued employment use is not
practicable, proposals for alternative employment generating uses,
such as health, leisure, tourism, childcare or hotels will be considered
in accordance with other policies in the Plan. Retail uses may also
be an acceptable alternative on town centre sites where they would
enhance the retail function. |
| 9.43 |
Where none of these is practicable the
Council may permit residential development in the form of permanently
affordable housing (HSG 6). |
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EMP 5 - HOME WORKING |
| 9.44 |
The Council will encourage
home working subject to the following requirements: |
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(a) |
there is no unacceptable
loss of amenity to neighbouring residents; |
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(b) |
there is no loss of a residential
unit. |
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| 9.45 |
Working at home reduces travel to work
journeys and provides a valuable opportunity for those setting up
in business, especially for the less mobile. However despite its obvious
benefits, home working can have damaging effects on local amenity,
particularly from traffic generation and must therefore be carefully
controlled. This policy will apply only in those cases where a material
change of use has occurred. |
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EMP 6 - LIVE & WORK
UNITS |
| 9.46 |
The Council will encourage
the retention and development of live-work units, subject to relevant
policies on the protection of existing uses and sites. |
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| 9.47 |
Live-work units also provide an opportunity
to work from home. The Council will encourage the provision of such
uses, and will seek legal agreements to ensure that live and work
units remain in this dual use. Normally, neither the residential nor
the employment element of the development should exceed 75% of the
ensuing floorspace. Shops with living accommodation above already
provide a type of live-work opportunity, and should be retained through
provision of business/studio space where shops are no longer viable
subject to TC 7. |
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EMP 7 - SMALL AND GROWING
BUSINESSES |
| 9.48 |
The Council will encourage
the development of starter premises and managed work space for new
and growing industrial and business firms. |
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| 9.49 |
Particular attention will be given to
the needs of small and growing firms and newly established businesses
as it is considered important that these businesses be given the opportunity
to establish and expand in the Borough. Special encouragement will
be given to the development of very small industrial and business
units under 100 sq m which are relatively uneconomic to construct.
These are particularly appropriate in areas where conditions are less
favourable for storage/distribution. |
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POLICIES FOR TOURISM
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EMP 8 - DEVELOPMENT
OF TOURISM |
| 9.50 |
The Council will support
the Tourist and Twinning Advisory Group and will seek to promote tourism
in the Borough. It will seek to maximise visitor satisfaction while
protecting the interests of residents and the environmental character
of the Borough from the effects of too many visitors. Off-peak visits
will be encouraged and the less well known destinations highlighted
as part of a programme of planned tourism management. Visitors will
be encouraged to use public transport. |
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| 9.51 |
The Tourism Advisory Group, and the Council,
together with the London Tourist Board have all promoted tourism in
the Borough and worked with adjoining boroughs. The Council recognises
the value of tourism but is concerned to ensure that any adverse effect
it may have on the Borough's environment or on land use and transport
is minimised. Adverse effects can be car and coach parking problems,
congestion, litter and general inconvenience. The benefits can be
greater choice of facilities for residents, a stronger economic base
for the Borough, increased prosperity, more investment and more jobs.
A wider spread of visitors and promotion of off-peak visits will play
an important part in maximising benefits to the Borough and minimising
adverse effects of major attractions. |
| 9.52 |
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in addition
to its role as a public garden that attracts 1.5 million visitors
annually, is of outstanding importance as a scientific institution,
as an area of historic landscape, a royal garden and for its collection
of buildings and ornamental features. Hampton Court Palace is a major
historic attraction with some 0.5 million visitors per annum. Matches
and other events at the Rugby Football Union Stadium are attended
by up to 75,000 spectators, whilst Richmond Park attracts a large
number of weekend visitors. Although these major attractions are not
within the direct control of the Council, the Attractions Working
Group monitors their operations. The Council will therefore work with
and encourage the management organisations responsible for them, to
mitigate the environmental problems created by visitors. Measures
sought will include encouraging the use of public transport and the
provision of coach and car parking facilities that will be least damaging
to the environment or disturbing to local residents. The Council will
give consideration to allocating financial support to further its
objectives for tourism when resources permit. Long distance cycling
and walking routes including the Thames Valley Cycle Route and the
Thames Path, together with the two orbital walking routes which pass
through the Borough have great potential for encouraging visitors
into and through the Borough. Such routes encourage environmentally
responsible tourism (see also ENV 6 Green Chains). |
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EMP 9 - HOTELS AND
GUESTHOUSES |
| 9.53 |
Where it can be shown that
existing hotels and guesthouses and other overnight accommodation
contribute to meeting an identified need, their loss will be resisted.
Favourable consideration will be given to proposals for hotels and
guesthouses in suitable locations. These will normally be in or adjacent
to existing commercial centres or close to attractions and well served
by public transport. The Council will have due regard to residential
amenity and to the environmental impact of proposals. |
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| 9.54 |
The Council particularly wishes to encourage
overnight visitors, as they are likely to benefit the Borough more
than day visitors and cause less traffic congestion. Where there is
an identified need the loss of existing hotels and guesthouses will
be resisted subject to their being in locations which continue to
be compatible with the amenity of the surrounding area and have adequate
access and parking. There is a particular need for middle and budget
priced hotels within the Borough catering for the tourist market,
since high occupancy rates in existing hotels reduce the ability to
retain visitor spend. Twickenham in particular would benefit from
the provision of hotel accommodation. (See Proposal
T3 - Post Office sorting office site). Hotel development will
be supported and be encouraged whenever possible provided there is
no conflict with other policies in the Plan. In line with RPG3, consideration
may be given to the use of vacant office premises in town centres
(see EMP 4), which are not suitable for conversion to residential.
The conversion of rooms over public houses to provide visitor accommodation
will also be encouraged in appropriate circumstances. Where appropriate,
the Council will seek to enter into planning agreements under the
Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 106, to secure public
use of appropriate facilities. |
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AIMS FOR TOURISM MANAGEMENT
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TOURIST INFORMATION AND GUIDE LEAFLETS
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| 9.55 |
In order to avoid over concentration of
tourists and reduce the adverse effect on the environment and encourage
visits to less well known attractions, the Council will continue to
provide its tourist information service and guide leaflets and will
expand these activities when resources permit. |
| 9.56 |
The Council considers that the adverse
effects of tourism can be minimised and the benefits enhanced by providing
better information to visitors and indeed to residents who wish to
discover more about the Borough. This information should promote visits
to those parts of the Borough which have the capacity to cope with
additional visitors, encourage off-peak visits, encourage visitors
to stay overnight and always encourage visitors to use public transport.
It could, when describing places of interest or walks, encourage visitors
to spend money in the Borough by making them aware of, and routing
them past, restaurants, public houses, shops etc. In addition to the
existing tourist information provision at major libraries and the
Civic Centre, the Council will assist in setting up staffed information
points at tourism gateways, and seek to establish tourist information
points in appropriate new developments. |
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