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4.6 This commitment to economic growth has very recently (in July of 2011) been re-emphasised in the draft
NPPF. Although we recognise it is in draft form, it nonetheless demonstrates the direction of travel of
government policy.
4.7 Paragraph 13 of the draft NPPF sets out the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the planning
system does everything it can to support sustainable economic growth. It comments that, without
growth, a sustainable future cannot be achieved and that planning must operate to encourage this
growth, not act as an impediment. Paragraph 19 goes on to state that:-
“Decision takers at every level should assume that the default answer
to development proposals is ‘yes’, except where this would
compromise the key sustainable development principles set out in
national planning policy.”
4.8 In terms of employment allocations, paragraph 75 of the NPPF states that planning policy should avoid
the long-term protection of employment land and that applications for alternative uses of designated land
should be treated on their merits having regard to market signals and the relative need for different land
uses.
b) Employment Land Supply
i. Caxton Way Industrial Estates
4.9 Caxton Way/Burrell Way are located either side of the A11 (London Road) to the south west of Thetford
Town Centre, within the Saxton Ward. The application site forms part of the Caxton Way Industrial
Estate which comprises predominately former food production facilities alongside ancillary storage and
associated office buildings. The majority of these were once owned by Tulip International (bacon, beef
and pork product producers). Tulip finally ceased the last of their operations within Thetford in 2009.
4.10 Existing occupiers at Caxton Way Industrial Estate include: 2 Sisters Food Group (Food Production);
Baxter Healthcare (Medical Products and Services); Trox UK Ltd (Air conditioning and ventilation);
Rowlinson Packaging (Packaging); and Thetford Diaries (Dairy Products). There are, however, a
number of vacancies on the Estate – of significance these include:-
The Saxton Site (formerly a food production unit) c.2.78ha.
Room 29, Caxton Way (industrial – warehouse) c.53,000ft² (see photographs below).
Former Tulip Factory Site, London Road/Caxton Way, Thetford Page 16
Retail & Planning Statement, February 2012