HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

Accommodation for Small Businesses
10.15 Small businesses are acknowledged to be very important in maintaining a strong economy since
they provide the seed bed for future larger businesses. Government guidance stresses the importance of
helping small businesses to start up and to grow, and their importance to the health of the economy and the
need for planning authorities to include within development plans positive policies to assist them (revised
PPG4, para 5). A vital aspect of assisting small businesses both to start up and to grow is ensuring an
adequate supply of suitable accommodation. A survey of the Borough's IBAs (1995) indicates that the
provision of accommodation for small businesses (i.e. of less than 235m²) varies significantly across IBAs.
Summerhouse Lane works in Harefield had the highest proportion of occupied "small" units of over 80% of
all units. Trout Road, Yiewsley IBA also had a high proportion of small units whereas Uxbridge Industrial
Estate had the highest number of occupied small units (141). In contrast certain IBAs (Millington Road,
Hayes and Stockley Close and Stockley Park, West Drayton) had no small units at all. The survey found
approximately 100 vacant small units with the majority accounted for by relatively few IBAs (Uxbridge
and North Uxbridge, Pump Lane and Springfield Road in Hayes and Trout Road in Yiewsley).
10.16 The site audit undertaken as part of the Council's wider regeneration audit found that small
businesses are a significant component of the economy in the Hayes/West Drayton Corridor. The Council
recognises that accommodation for small businesses is a priority in regenerating the corridor and as part of
its KONVER bid proposed a Sheltered Business Units project. Where appropriate, planning briefs for
individual sites with potential to provide for small units will be prepared. The Local Planning Authority
aims to maintain and wherever possible improve this provision and will closely monitor the supply of
accommodation for small businesses in the context of any future changes in demand. Furthermore, with
respect to the Council’s economic regeneration objectives the local planning authority will encourage,
where appropriate, proposals for offices or unrestricted business use developments to be designed in such a
way as not to preclude an industrial use, especially where it may assist retention and/or promotion of small
businesses.
LE3 NEW DEVELOPMENT IN DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS AREAS
SHOULD, WHERE APPROPRIATE AND PRACTICABLE, INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF
SMALL UNITS, PARTICULARLY WHEN EXISTING SMALL UNITS ARE PROPOSED TO BE
DEMOLISHED.
In applying Policy LE3 the Local Planning Authority will take into account any evidence indicating a need
for small units which is not being met, and the size of the new development proposed. As Government
guidance does not specify the size of accommodation for small businesses, the Local Planning Authority
will encourage proposals providing a range of unit sizes and proposals designed flexibly so as to
accommodate the range of uses spanned by the B1 Use Class. In this context attention will be drawn to the
flexibility afforded by the General Development Order 1988 to change the use of small premises with a
floorspace less than 235 sq m to and from the Business and Storage/Distribution Use Classes.
Industrial Uses Outside Designated Industrial and Business Areas
10.17 Industrial uses located outside designated IBAs can, in certain circumstances, operate
satisfactorily in land use planning terms without, for example, causing disturbance and loss of residential
amenity. This is particularly so of light industry which by definition has to be able to be carried out in any
residential area without adversely affecting the amenity of the area, but can also include some general
industry and car repair workshops. These uses can provide important local services and employment and,
except where they do result in the loss of amenity through disturbance to neighbours, visual intrusion or an
adverse impact on the character of an area, the Local Planning Authority will resist the loss of such
floorspace and land subject to the provisions of Policy LE4.
LE4 PROPOSALS WHICH INVOLVE THE LOSS OF EXISTING INDUSTRIAL
FLOORSPACE OR LAND OUTSIDE DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS AREAS
WILL NORMALLY ONLY BE PERMITTED IF:-
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan