Policy 6 The Economy

Page 91

Modification

Amend Policy 6 to read:

POLICY 6 - THE ECONOMY (underlined in the original)

1. Sufficient employment land is allocated in accessible locations to meet identified need and to provide for choice. Opportunities for sustainable access to sites should be maximised through development proposals and infrastructure investment.
    
2. The needs of small, medium and start-up businesses are addressed through:

• theThe allocation and retention of smaller scale employment sites across the area, with limited expansion where this can be justified;.
• encouragingEncouraging the provision of small-scale business opportunities in all significant residential and commercial developments and through the appropriate use of rural buildings;.
• Support for rural enterprises through the conversion of rural buildings, the development and diversification of agricultural and other land based rural businesses and well-designed new build. If new build development is proposed to meet local business and community needs in rural areas the use of previously developed land and sites that are physically well-related to existing settlements should be encouraged where suitable opportunities exist. For sites beyond existing settlements and in locations not well served by public transport then development should be well designed and sensitive to its surroundings, should not have an unacceptable impact on local roads and should exploit any opportunities to make the location more sustainable.
• Encouraging flexible building design and innovative approaches in new and existing residential developments to encourage local working and business opportunities.

3. Larger scale needs are addressed through the allocation of sufficient land to provide a choice and range of sites, including key ¹⁰¹strategic sites targeted at specific sectors. Investment strategies will ensure that a readily available supply of land is maintained throughout the plan period.
    
4. Land identified for employment uses in this local plan will only be considered for other uses that are ancillary to and supportive of its employment role.
    
5. Tourism, leisure, environmental and cultural industries will be promoted and assisted by:

• theThe general emphasis in this local plan on achieving high quality design, resource efficiency, environmental enhancement and retention of local distinctiveness;
• protectionProtection, enhancement and expansion of the green infrastructure network;
• encouragement Encouragement for sustainable tourism initiatives and development that supports cultural industries;
• promotionPromotion of the creative industries cluster focussed on the city centre.

6. Opportunities for innovation, skills and training will be expanded through facilitating the expansion of, and access to, vocational, further and higher education provision.
    

Key strategic employment areas (underlined in the original)

Key strategic employment areas and their main uses are:

Town Centres (underlined in the original)

The development of new retailing, leisure, offices and other main town centre uses will be subject to the sequential approach and out-of-centre impact assessment, as defined by Government policy and guidance, and will be encouraged at a scale appropriate to the form and functions of the following hierarchy of defined centres:

1. Norwich city centre;.
2. The town centres of Aylsham, Diss, Harleston and Wymondham, and within the Norwich urban area, the large district centres at Anglia Square/Magdalen Street and Riverside;.
3. The large village and district centres of: Acle, Coltishall, Hethersett, Hingham, Loddon, Long Stratton, Poringland and Reepham, and within the Norwich urban area at Aylsham Road, Drayton Road, Bowthorpe, Dereham Road, Eaton centre, Earlham House, Harford Place (Hall Road/Sandy Lane), Larkman centre, Plumstead Road, Sprowston Road, Old Catton and Dussindale (Thorpe St Andrew). New district centres to be established in accordance with the Growth Triangle Area Action Plan;.
4. Local centres, including new and enhanced local centres serving major growth locations.

Proposals for retail and leisure development outside town centres will also be subject to an impact assessment where necessary, as defined by Government policy and guidance. In order to prevent the proliferation of town centre uses in out-of-centre and edge-of-centre locations and to control their character, conditions will be used to restrict permissions granted for office, light industrial or research and development changing to other uses within Class E.

Development and investment consistent in scale with the function of the centre are encouraged at all levels of the hierarchy to enhance the range of businesses and facilities available locally. Development should seek to enhance the environment and economy of centres, and of villages with more dispersed services, to protect their function and avoid the loss of commercial premises or local servicesprovide a range of uses and active frontages to support the centre's vitality and viability.
 

Local Retail and Leisure (new title - to be underlined)

Small scale retail and leisure developments serving local needs are encouragedwill be permitted to serve new residential developments and existing residential areas, subject to compliance with other development plan policiesimpact on local amenity, in existing residential areas and to support village life and promote active travel.

Reasons

To ensure the plan is effective and justified.