Policy information sourced from the Watford Local Plan 2021-2038.
EM4.1: Providing New Employment
Proposals for new employment floorspace will be supported where they contribute towards meeting the identified employment need in the borough and Functional Economic Market Area.
To meet the employment needs in Watford and contribute towards the strategic employment requirements of South West Hertfordshire, the Local Plan makes provision for 25,206sqm net additional industrial floorspace (Use Classes B2, B8, E(g)(ii) and E(g)(iii) and 85,488sqm of net additional office floorspace (Use Class E(g)(i). To meet these targets, the Local Plan will seek to prevent the net loss of office and industrial floorspace across the borough. New office growth will be prioritised at the Clarendon Road Primary Office Location, while new industrial growth will be prioritised in the five Designated Industrial Areas.
The Council will seek to support sustainable economic growth in the borough and the wider Functional Economic Market Area, where possible, by:
- Protecting existing employment land from inappropriate development;
- Encouraging the growth of new businesses and industries;
- Supporting new models and ways of working, including more flexible working practices;
- Ensuring employment land is intensified to make the most effective use of land; and
- Attracting new inward investment.
Site allocations for employment and mixed-use development, where employment uses would be supported, are defined on the Policies Map.
For more information, please see the Watford Local Plan 2021-2038.