Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

the delivery of local services. As identified in the Economy and EmploymentSpace Study, 2009, interest in new employment space in the rural area is lowand opportunities are constrained by the Green Belt. Therefore, it is notproposed to allocate additional land for such uses. Any future demand foremployment space will be met through the retention and refurbishment ofexisting employment space and supporting the appropriate conversion of ruralbuildings in suitable locations to employment use. This includes culture andtourism uses (see Policy CS09) and the creation of live-work units wherethere is a reasonable proportion of work space. In assessing proposals,regard will be given to the sensitivity of the location and the impact on theopenness of the Green Belt.Offices5.1.23 The Council's approach to locating office employment is influenced by:• existing planning permissions and the desire to bring forwardsustainable mixed use developments, reducing the need to travel towork;• the identification of Ebbsfleet as a future sub-regional office location,with the potential to reduce out-commuting and to make more efficientuse of the rail network by encouraging reverse-commuting; and• recognition of the potential of Gravesend Town Centre as an officelocation, based on High Speed Rail and improved connectivity withLondon.5.1.24 The inclusion of office floorspace as part of the mixed use developmentof key sites included in the Opportunity Areas as set out in Table 6 above willtherefore continue to be supported.5.1.25 The location of proposals for new office development will be subject toa sequential test. In line with national policy, Gravesend Town Centre (asdefined on Figure 17 in Policy CS08) will be the sequentially preferredlocation for new office development.5.1.26 If suitable sites are not available in the Town Centre, the sequentiallypreferred location will be accessible sites that are on the edge of the Town117