Policy information sourced from The Waltham Forest Blackhorse Lane Area Action Plan
BHL6: Employment
The role of the Blackhorse Lane area as a major employer of local people will be retained and enhanced by:
A) providing new high quality B1 floorspace for a range of small/ medium businesses and creative industries as part of mixed use developments in the sites identified in Section 4: Opportunity Sites. Where provided, new floorspace should;
- meet the requirements of Development Management Policy DM19c
- provide suitable access, servicing and parking for commercial vehicles
- be of a sufficient scale to ensure the continued employment function of the area is not undermined; giving due consideration to the indicative targets for new employment floorspace set out in section 5.3 of this document
- be marketed at rents and service charges affordable to small and medium enterprises; which may be controlled through the use of planning obligations.
B) directing general industrial (including green industries), storage, manufacturing and distribution uses to land designated as SIL (as shown on the policies map). Through partnership working, the Council will explore opportunities for investment in SIL through matters such as improved signage, access and public realm.
C) requiring redevelopment of existing employment land that is neither designated as SIL nor identified as an opportunity site in Section 4 of this AAP, to demonstrate that the existing space is no longer fit for purpose, and has no reasonable prospect of coming forward for future employment use. Evidence should be provided that:
- the site has been appropriately advertised at a price in line with local market values, with terms and conditions that are reasonable and attractive to potential business
- all opportunities to re-let for employment generating uses have been adequately explored, including where this requires flexibility in terms of sub-dividing existing floorspace
Where it is accepted that existing business space is no longer fit for purpose, redevelopment should incorporate new fit for purpose B1 space in accordance with the requirements of policy point A to ensure the development brings an uplift in levels of employment on site. Where this is not possible, justification on viability grounds will be required.
D) supporting the refurbishment of existing industrial buildings of architectural merit where viable; to provide new employment space with high environmental standards for small and medium businesses;
E) supporting uses that offer education and training opportunities for local residents within new, mixed use developments, outside of land designated as SIL;
F) securing employment and/ or training of local people within new developments and during their construction; through local labour agreements, jobs brokerage initiatives, or financial contributions towards wider employment and training initiatives.
G) Where the redevelopment of opportunity sites cannot accommodate occupiers of existing business units on site, the Council will work with landowners and the GLA to assist in their relocation locally.
For more information please see the Area Action Plan