Policy EC3 – Major Employment and Strategic Employment Locations

Light industrial, general industrial, storage or distribution and other appropriate sui generis employment uses will be directed towards Major Employment Locations (MEL) and Strategic Employment Locations (SEL). Use class B1(a) shall only be permitted in a MEL or SEL where it cannot be accommodated in a city centre location and it would otherwise result in the loss of significant inward investment. Use Class B1(b) call centres and B1(c) research and development will be supported in an existing employment area. Planning permission will be granted for proposals complementary to the primary employment use, providing a small scale-ancillary service to meet the day-to-day needs of local employees, subject to compliance with other plan policies; Zoned employment areas will be retained in employment use and will be the focus of economic regeneration and development opportunities likely to come forward during the plan period. Only in exceptional circumstances, as outlined in policy EC4: loss of zoned employment land, will the loss of employment land to alternatives uses be considered.