PPS 4 Planning and Economic Development·Page 31·PED 5
Policy PED 5: Major Industrial Development in the Countryside
Major industrial proposals that contribute significantly to the regional economy can be permitted in the countryside where they require a countryside location due to their size or site-specific requirements. Such proposals must be assessed for sustainable economic benefits, availability of alternative sites, and environmental or transport impacts.
A major industrial proposal which makes a significant contribution to the regional economy will be permitted in the countryside where it is demonstrated that the proposal due to its size or site specific requirements needs a countryside location.
Such proposals will be assessed taking account of:
(a) the long-term sustainable economic benefits;
(b) the availability of alternative sites; and
(c) the environmental or transport impacts.
Where an industrial development proposal is judged acceptable in principle in the countryside under the above, an edge of town location will be favoured over a location elsewhere in the rural area.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/regional/PPS 4 - Planning and Economic Development.pdf