Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021

E7 Industrial Intensification, Co-Location and Substitution

  • Development Plans and development proposals should be proactive and encourage the intensification of business uses in Use Classes B1c, B2 and B8 occupying all categories of industrial land through:
    • introduction of small units
    • development of multi-storey schemes
    • addition of basements
    • more efficient use of land through higher plot ratios having regard to operational yard space requirements (including servicing) and mitigating impacts on the transport network where necessary.
  • Development Plans and planning frameworks should be proactive and consider, in collaboration with the Mayor, whether certain logistics, industrial and related functions in selected parts of SIL or LSIS could be intensified to provide additional industrial capacity. Intensification can also be used to facilitate the consolidation of an identified SIL or LSIS to support the delivery of residential and other uses, such as social infrastructure, or to contribute to town centre renewal. This process must meet the criteria set out in Part D below. This approach should only be considered as part of a plan-led process of SIL or LSIS intensification and consolidation (and the areas affected clearly defined in Development Plan policies maps) or as part of a co-ordinated masterplanning process in collaboration with the GLA and relevant borough, and not through ad hoc planning applications. In LSIS (but not in SIL) the scope for co-locating industrial uses with residential and other uses may be considered. This should also be part of a plan-led or masterplanning process.
  • Mixed-use or residential development proposals on Non-Designated Industrial Sites should only be supported where:
    • there is no reasonable prospect of the site being used for the industrial and related purposes set out in Part A of Policy E4 Land for industry, logistics and services to support London’s economic function; or
    • it has been allocated in an adopted local Development Plan Document for residential or mixed-use development; or
    • industrial, storage or distribution floorspace is provided as part of mixed-use intensification (see also Part C of Policy E2 Providing suitable business space).

Mixed-use development proposals on Non-Designated Industrial Sites which co-locate industrial, storage or distribution floorspace with residential and/or other uses should also meet the criteria set out in Part D below.

  • The processes set out in Parts B and C above must ensure that:
    • the industrial and related activities on-site and in surrounding parts of the SIL, LSIS or Non-Designated Industrial Site are not compromised in terms of their continued efficient function, access, service arrangements and days/hours of operation noting that many businesses have 7-day/24- hour access and operational requirements
    • the intensified industrial, storage and distribution uses are completed in advance of any residential component being occupied
    • appropriate design mitigation is provided in any residential element to ensure compliance with 1 above with particular consideration given to:
      • safety and security
      • the layout, orientation, access, servicing and delivery arrangements of the uses in order to minimise conflict
      • design quality, public realm, visual impact and amenity for residents
      • agent of change principles
      • vibration and noise
      • air quality, including dust, odour and emissions and potential contamination.
  • Development Plans and planning frameworks should consider, in collaboration with the GLA and neighbouring authorities within and outside London, the scope to facilitate the substitution of some of London’s industrial capacity to related property markets elsewhere in London and beyond London’s boundary where:
    • this results in mutual advantage to collaboration partners inside and outside London and supports a more efficient use of land
    • full regard is given to both the positive and negative impacts of substitution including impacts on servicing the economy inside and outside London, businesses and customers, labour markets and commuting, supply-chains and logistics, congestion, pollution and vehicle miles
    • a clearly-defined strategy for the substitution of future demand capacity and/or relocation arrangements, where relevant, is in place to support this process.

This approach should only be considered as part of a plan-led process of consolidation and intensification (and clearly defined in Development Plan policies maps) and not through ad hoc planning applications.

For more information please see The London Plan 2021