Policy information sourced from The Waltham Forest Local Plan Development Management Policies
DM20 Non-Designated Employment Areas
A) In accordance with Core Strategy Policy CS8 (Making Efficient Use of Employment Land), the Council will support applications for more productive uses in non designated employment land (i.e. land currently or last used for such purposes but not identified on the policies map), where:
- there are clear barriers to the sites future employment use, such as inadequate ceiling heights, floor loading capacities, access and parking provision, and poor building repair;
- there is no reasonable prospect of being re-let or sold for employment purposes having been marketed at a reasonable price with reasonable terms and conditions;
- the Council is satisfied that the proposed use would not be better located in a town or district centre, in accordance with policy DM26 (New Retail, Office and Leisure Developments);
- mitigation for the loss of employment land is provided in either by the provision of arrangements to train local residents to obtain the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to acquire jobs elsewhere, or by the use of local labour agreements for the construction phase of new development and/or the end user jobs of new non-residential development;
- in all other respects the proposed use is well designed and suitable to its surroundings.
Where Area Action Plans establish the principle of redevelopment of sites last used for employment purposes, proposals that are in accordance with the Area Action Plan will not be required to meet the first two bullet points above.
B) Where land last used for employment is released to other uses, preference will be given to schemes that incorporate social infrastructure including compatible D1 uses such as education and training facilities, day centres, clinics and health centres. Any new social infrastructure will need to accord with the criteria set out in policy DM17. Schemes that incorporate fit for purpose new B1 business space as part of a mixed use development will also be supported in principle.
C) New live/ work premises will be supported where:
- a clear need for a residential presence on a worksite has been demonstrated;
- the proposal includes adequate provision of useable B1 workspace;
- the proposal would not compromise the character and function of the surrounding area;
- the residential element meets the standards set out in policy DM7 (Amenity and Internal Space).
D) Proposals for studio space and craft workshops will be encouraged within the borough’s railway arches, provided these do not undermine the vitality and viability of town and district centres.
For more information please see the Local Plan Development Management Policies