Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

scenarios, including zero net migration. For this scenario, the study identifiesa need for less employment space than at present as it was based onpredictions of a falling working age population in the Borough 14 . However,once migration is taken into account along with changes to retirement ageover the plan period, a re-run of the forecasts 15 suggests that the working agepopulation will increase by 1,600 by 2028. The study was based on a range ofdemographic, housing and economic scenarios that provided a demand-sideperspective. It did not take into account other market or policy factors whichmay affect the delivery of employment space in the Borough such as:objectives to encourage diversified future employment growth; and potentialoutcomes that lower employment space delivery could have on rising localunemployment and increased out-commuting.4.2.17 On the basis that Gravesham is seeking to substantially diversify andstrengthen its economy and reduce out-commuting, it is planned to create aminimum of 4,600 new B class jobs over the Plan period. This is on the basisof providing at least one new job per new dwelling which has found favourthroughout the development of the Core Strategy as a principle. It is alsoplanned to maximise the employment potential of Ebbsfleet in the longer termfor the provision of further jobs.4.2.18 Whilst the Council recognises that jobs can be delivered from a rangeof sectors, the Council's focus is to ensure that there is sufficient land for Bclass employment, which includes offices, industrial and storage anddistribution uses, and the range of job opportunities that this can provide.4.2.19 The SLAA shows that sufficient employment floorspace can beprovided within the urban area at Gravesend/Northfleet to meet the identifiedneed for at least 4,600 new jobs by 2028. It also shows that Ebbsfleet has thepotential to deliver at least 1,416 new B class jobs in Gravesham in the latterpart of the plan period, with scope for significantly more new jobs beyond theplan period. This reflects the long standing and continuing strategy for thearea of creating a regional hub for the location of a major business district in amixed settlement.14 contained in the Demographic and Labour Supply Forecasts July 201115 Demographic and Labour Supply Assessment April 201247