To sustain a buoyant local economy and to create suitable conditions for the expansion of existing firms and the development of new businesses.

To ensure an adequate supply of suitable land is available in the District in accordance with Structure Plan policies and to provide for a range of business requirements.

Employment Land Provision

The strategic guidance provided in the Wiltshire Structure Plan 2011 seeks to facilitate job creation in and economic regeneration of the towns of West Wiltshire. The Structure Plan strategy stresses the need to identify sufficient land within the District to enable out-commuting to be reduced by 20 per cent, reflecting targets published for 2020 by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. The Strategy identifies the need to concentrate development in the existing towns as fundamental to the pursuit of a more sustainable pattern of development and transport use. The scale and nature of development should reflect the size, role and character of each town. In particular, the Strategy recognises the historic character of Bradford on Avon and the high landscape settings of Bradford on Avon and Warminster and states that new development should not adversely affect these features. The District Plan 1st Alteration sets out the context within which new development will be considered. Clearly, the needs of economic development and of conservation interests will need to be in balance.

Provision is made in the Wiltshire County Structure Plan 2011 for the development of about 150 hectares (371 acres) of land for employment purposes in West Wiltshire District.  It is considered that the allocation of this amount of land should meet the requirements of the expanding workforce in West Wiltshire, which is expected to increase by about 8,000 in the period 1991 – 2011.

Table 5 Employment Land Position April 2001

All figures in hectares

Source:Wiltshire County Council, Environmental Services Department

Notes:

 * Commitments are planning permissions either under construction or not yet started and development completed between 04/1991 and 03/2001.

** District Plan (1996) allocations and other large commitments are detailed in Appendix E.

Trowbridge

A site of 12.1 hectares (30 acres) to the north of West Ashton Road is allocated for employment purposes. The site was granted outline planning permission in 1998. The site is well related to the town, residential areas and the town centre, whilst not being so close as to cause environmental or amenity problems. The site has no adverse implications for the interests of nature conservation, in particular the ancient semi-natural woodland of Biss and Green Lane Woods. The site offers an excellent opportunity to provide an attractive landscaped site, integrated with the proposed country park and adjacent residential areas, which could cater for a  wide range of employment uses.

There are opportunities for good access to the main county road network and additional new road links are safeguarded in the Plan to eventually provide in future years a northern link through Paxcroft Mead and the Hilperton Gap to the Staverton Diversion, Bath and the A46/M4. Emphasis will be placed on a good quality working environment and a site which can cater for a wide range of employment uses by division into zones of activity. Off site channel works on the River Biss, as determined by the Environment Agency, may be required to alleviate the increased risk of flooding in the centre of Trowbridge which would result from the development of the proposed employment allocation. A development brief will be prepared for this area and will include advice on the layout of roads, phasing of development, landscaping and design guidance.

Melksham

A site of about 34.5 hectares (85 acres) south and west of the existing Bowerhill industrial estate is allocated for employment purposes. The site is well located adjacent to the A350 county distributor road and existing Bowerhill estate and offers an excellent opportunity to provide an attractive landscaped site which could cater for a wide range of employment uses including classes B1, B2 and B8 of the Use Classes Order 1987.

Westbury

A site of 4 hectares (9.9 acres) off Station Road is allocated for employment purposes, to include a mix of small scale light industry and business uses. The access road to this site and adjacent residential development (see Policy H14) will form part of the link to residential development south of the railway via a bridge over the railway (see Policy H13). The development will be required to allow for continued adequate vehicular access to Westbury Station. The site may contain features of nature conservation interest and developers will be required to submit an environmental survey of the site with any application for development. Appropriate landscaping will be required and careful consideration will be given to the location scale and design of buildings near the lake. Adequate access to the lakeside should be included in any development proposals. Frequent flooding occurs on the Biss Brook draining this area and careful consideration will need to be given to the flood alleviation requirements resulting from increased surface water run off. Developers are advised to contact the Environment Agency at an early stage to discuss the flood alleviation requirements.

There are a number of important employment sites within the District which either have the benefit of planning permission, but where development has not yet commenced, or which have potential for further development or redevelopment.  Policy E2 will permit further appropriate employment development on these sites within the area defined on the Proposals Map. A development brief will be prepared for the Northacre/Brook Lane employment policy area in Westbury to emphasise the prime location of the site adjacent to a major rail intersection with potential for establishing a new railhead. Policy T8a identifies safeguarded land in this location for the development of a multi user rail freight facility which is considered to be a suitable employment use for the site. The development proposals are likely to generate surface water issues and in particular off site drainage works are likely to be required as part of the development of Sites A and C. Developers are advised to contact the Environment Agency at an early stage in respect of surface water  disposal and flood risk matters.

Many employment uses are located outside the defined employment policy areas but within the five towns and are well related to public transport routes and accessible by cycling and walking. In many cases these make an important contribution to the local economy and where they have no adverse affect on adjoining residential property can be supported. Proposals to extend existing buildings on such sites can help to meet job needs whilst reducing the need for greenfield development.

Finding land for new employment development in appropriate locations is difficult and the loss of existing  employment land to other uses can exacerbate the problem. Where there is an adequate supply of employment land and premises elsewhere in the locality the redevelopment of employment land will be carefully controlled to ensure that new uses are compatible with existing neighbouring land uses and do not continue existing traffic problems or create highway or environmental problems.

Agriculture, the principal land use in the West Wiltshire countryside, is currently undergoing a significant period of change as a result of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms, uncertainties over world market prices, surplus production and changing consumer demands. The manifestations of this change are the steady decline in the agricultural workforce, set aside land and limited ‘on the farm’ employment opportunities.

The District Council recognises the urgent need to address the challenge of diversifying and sustaining the rural economy and the creation of new jobs in the District’s rural areas without sacrificing its environmental quality. It is proposed to encourage farm diversification projects, where appropriate, particularly where this will help maintain the countryside as a traditional landscape. It is noted that a variety of uses including light industrial, food processing, ‘telecottages’, leisure and tourism can be assimilated into the countryside, on and off the farm, to provide employment without causing environmental damage, by careful planning, siting materials and regard to operational use. The Rural Development Commission in partnership with the District Council, other local authorities and bodies, has identified a Rural Development Area which includes a large area of the southern part of the District. In this area development initiatives will be pursued, including the possible provision of workspace and support for small businesses. A Rural Development Strategy has been produced for the area.

The District Council accepts the guiding principle that development should benefit the rural economy and maintain or enhance the environment. Thus it will seek to encourage new opportunities for rural employment, in appropriate locations, having regard to the need to protect the special character and appearance of the District’s villages, rural areas and wildlife interests. It will only permit development proposals which accord with Structure and District Plan 1st Alteration policies and buildings in open countryside will be strictly controlled.

The District Council advises those considering farm diversification proposals or rural employment schemes to consult the Environment Agency at an early stage to discuss the foul water, waste disposal and flood risk matters.

The conversion of existing farm and other buildings in villages and in the open countryside for employment uses can play an important part in maintaining and enhancing the rural economy and is to be preferred over conversion for residential purposes. All proposals for the conversion of rural buildings for business, tourism and sport and recreational purposes will be considered against the criteria in Policy E8.  Proposals within the Western Wiltshire Green Belt are required, in addition, to satisfy the requirements of Policy GB2. 

Agriculture is an important economic activity in West Wiltshire and will  remain the major use of land in the countryside but perhaps a decreasing one.  Most of the agricultural land is Grade 3 and is generally well farmed and highly productive. However, there are some areas of Grades 1 and 2 land through the District. The District Council recognises that  protection of agricultural land is in the national interest and considers it essential that the best and most versatile agricultural land is preserved. The loss of Grades 1, 2 or  3A land will normally be resisted.

There is a growing interest in horse keeping and riding; demand for stabling, equestrian centres and other facilities associated with the keeping of horses has increased with resulting development pressures in open countryside and especially close to urban areas and villages. Proposals for development involving horses should take particular care to consider and minimise the effect on the appearance of the countryside. Buildings should be well sited and designed to blend with their surroundings. High standards of design, materials and construction of buildings and care of land will be required to ensure that equestrian activities do not have an adverse effect on the countryside. Planning applications for dwellings in connection with horse related development will be considered against Policies H19, H20, or H21 as appropriate.