Comment

Representation ID: 22415

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Horsham Properties Ltd

Agent: Mrs Georgina Brotherton

Question 15 - Do you support, object or wish to comment on the approach for the Economy?
4.6 As explained above, the site owners do not support the Plan’s approach to the economy with regards to existing small and medium size employment sites. Section 3 sets out the reasons why Policy 6 ‘The Economy’ requires amending. It is therefore, requested that Policy 6 is amended to allow for the expansion of small and medium sized employment sites.
4.7 With the above national policy context in mind, we consider draft Policy 6 is not flexible enough to meet the changing requirements of businesses and request that paragraph 2 is amended to allow for the expansion of small and medium sized sites, such as Abbey Farm Commercial Park. We therefore request that Policy 6, Paragraph 2 is amended as follows:
2.The needs of small, medium and start-up businesses are addressed through: • the allocation and retention of smaller scale employment sites across the area and the potential expansion of, a range of existing small and medium sized sites (LPP suggested text); • encouraging the provision of small-scale business opportunities in all significant residential and commercial developments and through the appropriate use of rural buildings; • Encouraging flexible building design and innovative approaches in new and existing residential developments to encourage local working and business opportunities.
Question 34 - Do you support, object or have any comments relating to the approach to employment land?
4.8 As explained above, the site owners do not support the approach to employment land with regards to existing small and medium size employment sites. Section 3 sets out the reasons why Policy 6 ‘The Economy’ requires amending. It is therefore, requested that Policy 6 is amended to allow for the expansion of small and medium sized employment sites.
4.9 With the above national policy context in mind, we consider draft Policy 6 is not flexible enough to meet the changing requirements of businesses and request that paragraph 2 is amended to allow for the expansion of small and medium sized sites, such as Abbey Farm Commercial Park. We therefore request that Policy 6, Paragraph 2 is amended as follows:
2.The needs of small, medium and start-up businesses are addressed through: • the allocation and retention of smaller scale employment sites across the area and the potential expansion of, a range of existing small and medium sized sites (LPP suggested text); • encouraging the provision of small-scale business opportunities in all significant residential and commercial developments and through the appropriate use of rural buildings; • Encouraging flexible building design and innovative approaches in new and existing residential developments to encourage local working and business opportunities.
Question 46 - Do you support or object or wish to comment on the approach for specific Village Clusters?
4.10 The site owners do not support the approach to Village Clusters as drafted within Policy 7.4 for the reasons set out in Section 3. It is requested that the policy is amended to include the existing employment allocation (site reference HNF3) land West of Abbey Farm Commercial Park within the policy. It is also requested that the text is amended to allow for the expansion of small and medium sized employment sites. We therefore request that the penultimate paragraph of Policy 7.4 is amended as follows: • Other small-scale employment development will be acceptable in principle elsewhere within village development boundaries or through the re-use of rural buildings or through the potential expansion of existing small and medium sized employment sites (LPP suggested text) subject to meeting other policies in the development plan.