Policy information sourced from the Tower Hamlets Local Plan

D.EMP4 Redevelopment within designated employment locations

1) Within the Primary Preferred Office Location (POL), redevelopment should result in an improvement and/or increase of office floorspace. Redevelopment to include residential uses will not be supported.

2) Redevelopment within the Secondary POL must be employment-led and deliver the maximum viable level of office floorspace, or other non-residential strategic functions within the Central Activities Zone (CAZ). Where residential uses are proposed these should not exceed the proportion set out in Policy S.EMP1.

3) Redevelopment within the CAZ (tertiary area) should be employment-led or mixed-use to include office or other nonresidential floorspace that supports the strategic function of the CAZ. Residential uses are supported as part of mixed use schemes although the proportion of residential floorspace should meet the requirements set out in Policy S.EMP1.

4) The redevelopment of Local Employment Locations (LELs) to include non-employment uses will only be supported if the existing level of employment floorspace is re-provided on-site and where it:

  • a. is compatible with other uses proposed at the site
  • provides separate access and servicing for commercial uses and residential uses
  • provides a range of high-quality flexible workspaces designed to meet the needs of the growing biotech cluster, research and development space, flexible workshop space and units to meet the needs of other small-to-medium enterprises and creative businesses within the Whitechapel LEL
  • provides a range of units to meet the needs of small-to-medium enterprises and capable of supporting B8 uses, such as data storage, within the Blackwall LEL
  • provides a range of units including ground-floor units capable of accommodating ‘industrial retail’ within the Tower Gateway East LEL, and
  • provides a range of units including industrial floorspace, smallto-medium enterprise space or studios to meet the needs of creative industries within the Cambridge Heath LEL.

5) The redevelopment of Local Industrial Locations (LILs) to include non-employment uses will only be supported if the existing industrial floorspace is re-provided on-site and where:

  • the proposed non-employment use is compatible with existing industrial uses at the site
  • the proposed non-employment use does not jeopardise the function and viability of the LIL
  • provides separate access and servicing for commercial uses and residential uses, and
  • a range of high quality flexible working spaces are provided, meeting the needs of small-to-medium enterprises.

6) Development which is likely to adversely impact or displace an existing business must find a suitable replacement accommodation within the borough unless it can be shown that the needs of the business are better met elsewhere.

For more information please see the Local Plan