Purpose and Key Objectives for Employment Land Protection

The council identifies economic growth as a key priority and aims to promote sustainable economic growth, create jobs and support business growth and enterprise. It seeks to protect existing premises in B class uses on zoned employment land, where there are strong economic reasons why the loss of the employment site would be inappropriate. The purpose is to secure the proper implementation of Policy EC4 of the Belfast Local Development Plan, Plan Strategy. The key objectives of the policy are: • ensuring an adequate supply of employment land in Belfast, including the provision of suitable locations which are available for industrial and commercial developments; • provision for a broad range of business types from small start-up businesses through to small, medium and large enterprises; • protecting employment sites / premises for employment use where there is a good prospect for employment use; and • help to maintain and support the creation of employment opportunities within the City. It will enable applicants to interpret LDP policies and identify where other non-specified uses will be acceptable on designated employment land.