Policy information sourced from the Barking & Dagenham Local Plan
DME 2 Providing flexible, affordable workspace
1.
Development creating 1,000 sqm employment floorspace 45 or greater will be required to incorporate an appropriate provision of affordable workspace 46 on-site, offered at below market rate, for shared workspace or small business units through Section 106 agreements, subject to development viability. This must meet the needs of local start-ups, small-to-medium enterprises and creative industries. The applicant should establish robust management links with registered workspace providers agreed by the Council and be able to:
- demonstrate that there is sufficient critical mass to ensure the sustainability of any provision
- provide units in turnkey form which are accepted by the Council or the registered workspace provider following completion. To be considered as acceptable turnkey spaces, the Council will expect the workspace units to be secure, vacant, and fully glazed, with smooth sealed concrete finishes to ceiling and walls, functional lighting, running water, sanitary facilities, and having capped essential services such as electricity and gas, as well as access provision of wired and wireless broadband technologies delivering the highest speeds to provide a wide range of services. These works will avoid substantial fit out costs for potential occupiers and enable the workspace to be more affordable for smaller businesses.
2.
In circumstances where it is not practicable or viable to meet Part 1 of the policy, a payment in lieu will be required to support delivery of affordable workspace in other parts of the borough, focusing primarily in identified Transformation Areas (see Chapter 3: Transforming Barking and Dagenham).
For more information please see the Barking & Dagenham Local Plan