Policy information sourced from Newham Local Plan 2018

J2 Providing for Efficient Use of Employment Land

Proposals that address the following strategic principles, spatial strategy and design and technical criteria will be supported:

  • Strategic Principles
    • Achieve [more] efficient use of employment land to support economic growth sectors and wider growth needs through the retention of suitable locations and capacity, intensification with no net loss of functionality, and limited, plan-led managed release of land as set out spatially in the J2 Employment Land Map (Figure 4.2 below); and
    • Manage the positive and negative impacts of employment-generating uses to ensure a managed transition to successful mixed use places at the large and small scale, helping to secure a balanced mix of jobs and homes
  • Spatial Strategy
    • Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL) and Local Industrial Locations (LIL) as listed in Table 7 are designated for protection, Managed Intensification, (as per criteria in J2.3b) and suitable in principle for Use Classes B1(b) B1(c) B2, B8 and appropriate Sui Generis employment uses including waste, utilities and transport depots, with other supporting facilities including B1a uses, where ancillary in scale and function. Sites with notable development capacities are identified in the spatial policies and Strategic Site Allocations at Central Thameside West, North Woolwich Gateway and Silvertown Landing;
    • The following sites will be released from SIL protection subject to Managed Release criteria (at J2:3a) and where proposals are in line with the vision set out in the spatial and other successful place-making policies including the relevant site allocation:
      • Silvertown Landing (Thameside West) (part);
      • Lyle Park West (Thameside West);
      • Connaught Riverside (Thameside East) (part);
      • Beckton Riverside (part);
      • Thames Wharf; and
      • Minoco Wharf;There is also scope for some limited further release through intensification of SIL uses over a smaller land area or with reduced spatial impact on the sites at Canning Town Riverside, Beckton Riverside and Silvertown Landing, where compliant with Managed Intensification criteria (see J2:3b) and spatial policies including the relevant site allocation;
    • Local Mixed Use Area (LMUAs) identified in Table 7 are allocated for employment-led mixed use that:
      • protects and promotes Class B1 uses and other employment-generating uses compatible with residential, subject to town centre and other infrastructure policies; and/or
      • allows for Managed Transition (see J2.3a) and redevelopment to focus on the ongoing viable operation of such uses and design incorporating or compatible with residential uses, whilst addressing any other site-specific issues;
    • Within Micro Businesses Opportunity Areas (MBOAs) identified in Table 7 allowing employment floor space that accommodates no more than 10 employees (cognisant of typical employment densities) subject to other policy considerations notably SP2, SP3, SP8 and SP7;
    • Allowing small-scale (less than 100 sq m GEA) B Class or Sui Generis non-speculative employment floorspace outside of defined employment areas to meet local business needs, and subject to other policy considerations, notably policies SP2 and SP8;
    • Elsewhere/in other cases, subject to compliance with Managed Release criteria on sites of 0.1ha or more (see J2.3.a), or where operational employment-generating floorspace compromises of 1,000 sq m or more, promoting consolidation of all other B class and Sui Generis employment-generating uses into:
      • SIL, LIL, LMUAs and MBOAs as per the above spatial strategy;
      • or, in order to relieve pressure on core SIL/LIL areas;
      • Strategic Sites providing other suitable new employment-floorspace; and
      • Where compatible, onto otherwise undesignated/allocated out of town retail parks; and
    • The Council will support the consolidation of four of the safeguarded wharves in Thameside West onto Central Thameside West (S07) in line with Policy INF1 and S3 to promote a more effective use of employment land subject to compliance with the Managed Intensification Criteria; and of the release of 2 wharves in the Canning Town Riverside area and adjacent (Mayer Parry and Priors Wharf) as per relevant London Plan Policies.These locations are defined in the Policies Map and in Table 7.
  • Design and Technical Criteria
    • Require applicants on sites (including Strategic Sites) covered by Managed Release and Managed Transition specifications to:
      • Have in place a strategy to deal with the relocation requirements of existing businesses that cannot be incorporated within a redevelopment no matter the extent of their lease interest, making reasonable endeavours to ensure they have a suitable alternative site secured, including transitional arrangements, cognisant of their local and regional economic role;
      • Where release to solely residential use (outside of Strategic Sites) is proposed, demonstrate marketing at locally benchmarked [industrial] prices/rents through local agents for a period of at least 12 months for the full range of permitted uses, including the option for sub-division and mixed use development incorporating the viable employment uses;
      • Ensure neighbourly development is achieved (in line with policy SP8) and not jeopardising the functioning of any remaining employment uses, including those incorporated within the redevelopment; and
      • Demonstrate that new employment floorspace within the redevelopment is designed to respond to evidenced market demand and occupier requirements to secure viable occupation.
    • Require proposals on sites covered by Managed Intensification specifications to demonstrate:
      • genuine intensification that maintains or increases capacity of the relevant SIL or LIL land use and achieves a reduced spatial footprint or spatial impacts; and
      • no net loss of functionality, including ability to meet evidenced local and appropriate strategic industrial and warehousing qualitative and quantitative demand.

For more information please see the Local Plan 2018