Policy information sourced from the Merton Sites and Policies Plan

DM E3 Protection of scattered employment sites

Link to Core Planning Strategy Policy CS 12 Economic Development.

Policy aim

To ensure that there is a diverse mix of size, type, tenure and location of employment facilities which can support a range of employment opportunities towards creating balanced mixed use neighbourhoods in Merton.

Policy

  • Proposals that result in the loss of scattered employment sites will be resisted except where:
    • The site is located in a predominantly residential area and it can be demonstrated that its operation has had a significant adverse effect on local residential amenity;
    • The size, configuration, access arrangements and other characteristics of the site makes it unsuitable and financially unviable for whole-site employment use; and,
    • It has been demonstrated to the council’s satisfaction that there is no realistic prospect of employment or community use on this site in the future. This may be demonstrated by full and proper marketing of the site at reasonable prices for a period of 30 months (2½ years).
  • If proposals do not meet policy requirements DM E3 (a) (iii) above, the council will seek measures to mitigate against the loss of employment land. Such measures may include:
    • Providing employment, as part of a mixed use scheme on-site; or,
    • Providing alternative sites for employment use (for instance, ‘land swaps’).

For more information see the Merton Sites and Policies Plan