Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

Policy 22 Promoting Jobs and our Local Economy

A. Proposals for employment floorspace should support suitable workspace for the borough’s locally significant and diverse sectors, in accordance with London Plan Policy E8, including those of particular importance to the borough’s local economy:

  1. Flexible workspace hubs including co-working space and serviced offices in the borough’s suburban town centre locations;
  2. Space to accommodate small and micro firms, for start-up, incubation and accelerator with corresponding business support;
  3. Voluntary, community and local healthcare organisations;
  4. Media and creative industries;
  5. Scientific research and laboratory space;
  6. Theatre, television and film studio capacity;
  7. River-related and river-dependent industries; and
  8. Opportunities to develop the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector and support the local circular economy

B. Proposals must provide opportunities for local employment and training, as required by Policy 50 ‘Education and Training (Strategic Policy)’ part D.

C. Proposals for the provision or re-provision of economic uses must provide for a high standard of workspace which reflects local economic needs and is of a design that enables use by a variety of different occupiers including:

  1. Adequate floor-to-ceiling heights which are sufficient for the operation of the intended use as well as the provision of serving requirements such as ventilation, heating, lighting, electricity and cabling;
  2. Adequate doorway and corridor widths are provided together with clear and flexible floorplates with few supporting columns, to allow for ease of movement and facilitate the efficient use of the floorspace;
  3. Level thresholds and inclusive access throughout the building;
  4. Adequate servicing and loading facilities, including access bays and service yards, and goods lifts for multi-story developments, as appropriate;
  5. Adequate facilities that promote cycle usage, including workspace showers, changing rooms, and lockers, proportionate to the scale of the development and quantity of cycle parking required (see Policy 48 ‘Vehicular Parking Standards, Cycle Parking, Servicing and Construction Logistics Management’);
  6. Natural light and ventilation. Windowless and basement economic floorspace will be resisted, unless considerations specific to the use prevent this; and
  7. Good telecommunications connectivity, including broadband connections and mobile connectivity (see Policy 27 ‘Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure (Strategic Policy) ‘).

D. The design and layout of the development must ensure that the proposed uses can successfully co-exist with surrounding uses, having regard to the amenity of adjacent occupiers and the operational requirements of existing and future businesses, ensuring that any potential conflicts will be adequately mitigated in accordance with London Plan Policy D13 Agent of Change.

For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan