Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

EC8 Non-designated employment sites

Strategic Objectives:

C A thriving local economy that tackles inequalities.

A Non-designated employment sites are those that contain or consist principally of Class E(g) office and light industrial, Class B industrial, Class B8 storage and distribution and similar Sui Generis uses, and which are located outside of SIL, LSIS and MEL. These sites make an important contribution to Lewisham’s local economy by providing workspace for businesses and job opportunities. Development proposals should protect and not result in the net loss of viable industrial capacity on these nondesignated employment sites.

B To ensure the continued viability of non-designated employment sites, development proposals for employment-led, mixed-used development will be supported where they are located within a well-connected area with high Public Transport Access Levels, or the site forms part of a cluster of commercial, industrial and/or other employment generating uses, and the development:

  • Maximises the amount of industrial capacity;
  • Provides demonstrable improvements in the site’s suitably for continued employment use, having particular regard to Policy EC3 (High quality employment areas and workspace);
  • Does not compromise the employment generating function of the site and any adjoining or nearby sites, particularly where they form part of a complementary cluster of uses;
  • Ensures appropriate protection of amenity both for the users of the development and neighbouring properties, with reference to the Agent of Change principle; and
  • Secures the provision of affordable housing for any residential element introduced, including through building conversions, in line with Policy HO3 (Genuinely affordable housing).

C On all other non-designated employment sites (i.e. those which fall outside the location requirements in (B) above) development proposals must not result in the net loss of viable industrial capacity, unless it can be demonstrated that the building or site is not suitable for continued business use having regard to:

  • Feasible alternative commercial, industrial and/ or employment generating uses;
  • The condition of the existing building(s) and reasonable options for the refurbishment and/or reconfiguration of floorspace to enable continued occupation by employment generating uses;
  • Site constraints including layout, access and compatibility with neighbouring uses;
  • Long-term vacancy; and e. Evidence of recent and continuous marketing, covering a minimum period of two-years and at an appropriate rental or sale value.

D On sites where the introduction of a residential element is acceptable in line with (C) above, development proposals must make provision for affordable housing, in line with Policy HO3 (Genuinely affordable housing).

E Development proposals involving the net loss of industrial capacity must make a financial contribution towards training or other employment related initiatives, in line with Policies EC10 (Workplace training and job opportunities) and DM2 (Infrastructure funding and planning obligations).

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan