Policy information sourced from Lewisham Development Management Local Plan

DM Policy 10 Local Employment Locations (LEL)

The Council will support uses within the B Use Class and appropriate sui generis uses, within a Local Employment Location, subject to:

  • the use being appropriate in the location in relation to the surrounding built context
  • the intensity of the use and
  • the new use meeting the aims in the Core Strategy Policy 3.

Permission for self-storage facilities, and larger scale storage facilities and warehouses (Use Class B8) will not be granted unless part of the development re-provides the floorspace for Small and Medium Enterprises in line with Core Strategy Policy 3 which protects Local Employment Locations for a range of business uses.

New build premises in these locations will be required to be flexibly specified and provided with an internal fit out to an appropriate level to ensure the deliverability of the units and the long term sustainability of the employment uses. The provision of lower cost accommodation suitable for starter businesses should form part of any new scheme.

Planning permission for the change of use of a building from business use to residential use, or other uses such as day nurseries, churches and other community facilities will not be granted due to the effect the proposal would have on the continued commercial functioning of the area as a whole and their incompatibility with the uses on the LEL.

For more information please see the Local Plan