Policy information sourced from Sevenoaks Core Strategy
SP 8 Economic Development and Land for Business
The sustainable development of the District’s economy will be supported by:
- the retention, intensification and regeneration of existing business areas primarily at Sevenoaks, Swanley, and Edenbridge and Major Developed Sites in rural areas, subject to Green Belt policy.
- through new provision for business as follows
- office development in Sevenoaks and Swanley town centres
- business development through allocation of greenfield land at Swanley outside the Green Belt
- giving priority to business uses, or tourist facilities, in the conversion of buildings in the rural area
- promoting hotel development in suitable locations in Sevenoaks and Swanley
- working with partners to develop initiatives to improve skills in the workforce
- supporting the development of start up units for small businesses in suitable locations and improvements in information and communications technology to facilitate more flexible working practices
Sites used for business purposes will be retained in business use unless it can be demonstrated that there is no reasonable prospect of their take up or continued use for business purposes during the Core Strategy period. Redevelopment for mixed use of business sites in urban areas may exceptionally be permitted where such development would facilitate the regeneration of the site to more effectively meet the needs of modern business, where the employment capacity of the site, represented by the commercial floorspace, is maintained and where a mixed use development would represent a sustainable approach consistent with the general distribution of development.
For more information please see the Core Strategy