Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021

E4 Land for Industry, Logistics and Services to Support London’s Economic Function

  • A sufficient supply of land and premises in different parts of London to meet current and future demands for industrial and related functions should be provided and maintained, taking into account strategic and local employment land reviews, industrial land audits and the potential for intensification, co-location and substitution (see Policy E7 Industrial intensification, co-location and substitution). This should make provision for the varied operational requirements of:
    • light and general industry (Use Classes B1c and B2)
    • storage and logistics/distribution (Use Class B8) including ‘last mile’ distribution close to central London and the Northern Isle of Dogs, consolidation centres and collection points
    • secondary materials, waste management and aggregates
    • utilities infrastructure (such as energy and water)
    • land for sustainable transport functions including intermodal freight interchanges, rail and bus infrastructure
    • wholesale markets
    • emerging industrial-related sectors
    • flexible (B1c/B2/B8) hybrid space to accommodate services that support the wider London economy and population
    • low-cost industrial and related space for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (see also Policy E2 Providing suitable business space)
    • research and development of industrial and related products or processes (falling within Use Class B1b).
  • London’s land and premises for industry, logistics and services falls into three categories:
    • Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL) – see Policy E5 Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL)
    • Locally Significant Industrial Sites (LSIS) - see Policy E6 Locally Significant Industrial Sites
    • Non-Designated Industrial Sites - see Part C of Policy E7 Industrial intensification, co-location and substitution.
  • The retention, enhancement and provision of additional industrial capacity across the three categories of industrial land set out in Part B should be planned, monitored and managed. Any release of industrial land in order to manage issues of long-term vacancy and to achieve wider planning objectives, including the delivery of strategic infrastructure, should be facilitated through the processes of industrial intensification, co-location and substitution set out in Policy E7 Industrial intensification, co-location and substitution and supported by Policy E5 Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL).
  • The retention, enhancement and provision of additional industrial capacity should be prioritised in locations that:
    • are accessible to the strategic road network and/or have potential for the transport of goods by rail and/or water transport
    • provide capacity for logistics, waste management, emerging industrial sectors or essential industrial-related services that support London’s economy and population
    • provide capacity for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
    • are suitable for ‘last mile’ distribution services to support large-scale residential or mixed-use developments subject to existing provision
    • support access to supply chains and local employment in industrial and related activities.
  • Any release of industrial capacity in line with Part C should be focused in locations that are (or are planned to be) well-connected by public transport, walking and cycling and contribute to other planning priorities including housing (and particularly affordable housing), schools and other infrastructure.
  • Efficient wholesale market functions should be retained to meet London’s requirements whilst enabling opportunities to consolidate composite wholesale markets to meet long-term wholesaling needs.
  • Boroughs should ensure that the need to retain sufficient industrial and logistics capacity is not undermined by permitted development rights by introducing Article 4 Directions where appropriate.

For more information please see The London Plan 2021