Development Management Policies - Direction of ... - Islington Council

6 Employment
E. The redevelopment of existing floorspace within Use Classes B2 and B8 will only be
permitted where a reprovision or increase of the existing amount of employment floorspace
within Use Classes B2 and B8 would occur as part of development proposals.
6.0.3 The Islington Employment Study Update (2008) identifies a need for 529,430m 2 of additional
B-Use floorspace 2006-2026. There is an identified supply of 65,000m 2 of unimplemented
planning permissions. Accounting for this, the B-Use floorspace requirement is 464,000m 2 ,
which corresponds to 371,544 m 2 over the period 2011-2026. This is a 20.5% increase
on the existing 1,810,000m 2 . This is a conservative estimate, given that not all
unimplemented planning permissions will be implemented. Based on this evidence a
significant increase in business floorspace is required on development sites, which shall
be the maximum that can be accommodated, subject to the full range of other planning
policies and considerations.
6.0.4 In relation to Parts A and B of policy DM32 evidence to demonstrate that the maximum
amount of business floorspace reasonably possible on site is proposed shall include
evidence of a lack of demand for a greater level of business floorspace than the proposed
amount. Where there is no demand for business floorspace above existing amounts
evidence in the form of a market demand analysis produced by a suitably qualified and
impartial organisation is required to be submitted.
6.0.5 In relation to any loss of business floorspace and / or floorspace within Use Classes B2
and/or B8 planning applications must demonstrate clear and robust evidence that there
is no demand for use of the building, unit and/or site for these purposes. This evidence
requires an active marketing period of at least 2 years, which is shown to be unsuccessful.
Active marketing should include all of the following:
1. contact information posted in a prominent location on site, in the form of an advertising
board (subject to advertising consent, if required);
2. property registered with at least one commercial property agent;
3. property details / particulars available to inquirers on request;
4. property registered with the council's business support team;
5. property marketed for a range of business uses and/or B2 and/or B8, where
appropriate, taking account of permitted changes of use, and
6. property marketed at a reasonable price, including in relation to condition, quality and
location of floorspace.
6.0.6 Sufficient detailed information is required to be submitted alongside any planning application
to demonstrate compliance with the above criteria, and information is required to be
submitted with regards to:
1. the number and details of enquiries received;
2. the number of viewings;
3. the number, type, proposed uses and value of offers received;
4. reasons for refusal of any offer received, and / or reasons why any offers fell through;
Development Management Policies - Direction of Travel Islington Council
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