Download - Thanet District Council Online Planning Consultations - Draft Thanet Local Plan to 2031 - Preferred Options Consultation - A) Thanet Preferred Option Draft Local Plan Employment Growth

31/01/2015 ThanetDistrictCouncilOnlinePlanningConsultationsDraftThanetLocalPlanto2031PreferredOptionsConsultationA)ThanetPreferredOpt

https://consult.thanet.gov.uk/consult.ti/TPODLP/viewCompoundDoc?docid=6048884&sessionid=&voteid=&partId=6057524 1/4

Draft Thanet Local Plan to 2031 PreferredOptions Consultation

Ends:06Mar2015

A) Thanet Preferred Option Draft Local Plan

StrategicProposalsEconomicStrategy

EmploymentGrowth

1.1ThePlan'seconomicstrategysetsouthowtheThanet'seconomyshouldgrow,developandcreatenewjobsandprosperityovertheplanperiod.Theeconomicstrategyisbaseduponapositiveandoptimisticlevelofgrowth.Thestrategyexplainswherethegrowthisexpectedtotakeplace,andwhattheLocalPlanisdoingtosupportthis,alongsidetheCouncil'sEconomicDevelopmentandRegenerationStrategy.

1.2OneofthecoreprinciplesoftheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework(NPPF)istoproactivelydriveandsupportsustainableeconomicdevelopmenttodeliverthehomes,businessandindustrialunits,infrastructureandthrivinglocalplacesthatthecountryneeds.Itstatesthatplanningauthoritiesshouldsetoutacleareconomicvisionandstrategyfortheirareaswhichpositivelyandproactivelyencouragesustainablegrowth,identifystrategicsitestomeetanticipatedneedsovertheplanperiod,supportexistingbusinesssectorsandplanfornewandemergingsectors.Policiesshouldbeflexibletoaccommodateneedsnotanticipatedandtoallowrapidresponsestochangesintheeconomy.Italsostatesthatclustersornetworksofknowledgedriven,creativehightechnologyindustriesshouldbeplannedfor,priorityareasforeconomicregenerationandinfrastructureprovision,andenvironmentalenhancementshouldbeidentified,andflexibleworkingpracticessuchastheintegrationofresidentialandcommercialuseswithinthesameunitshouldbefacilitated.

1.3Itfurtherstatesthatplansshouldavoidthelongtermprotectionofsitesallocatedforemploymentusewherethereisnoreasonableprospectofthesitebeingusedforthatpurpose.

1.4TheNPPFstatesthatplansshouldrecognisetowncentresastheheartoftheircommunitiesandsupporttheirvitalityandviability,promotecompetitivetowncentresthatprovidecustomerchoiceandadiverseretailoffer,retainandenhanceexistingmarketsandintroducenewones,andallocatearangeofsuitablesitestomeetthescaleandtypeofretail,leisure,commercial,office,tourism,cultural,communityandresidentialdevelopmentneeded.

1.5TheNPPFalsostatesthatLocalPlansshouldsupportthesustainablegrowthandexpansionofalltypesofbusinessandenterpriseintheruralareas,promotethedevelopmentanddiversificationofagriculturalandotherlandbasedruralbusinesses,supportsustainableruraltourismandleisuredevelopmentsthatbenefitsbusinessesintheruralareaandpromotetheretentionanddevelopmentoflocalservicesandcommunityfacilities.ThePlansevidencebaseshouldassesstheneedsofthefoodproductionindustryandanybarrierstoinvestmentthatplanningcanresolve.

1.6Thanetisuniqueinthatithasadiverseeconomywhichiscurrentlystrongintheeducationandhealthsectorsandtraditionallyhasseenaboveaveragerepresentationofretailandpublicadministration.Cutsinpublicsectorspendingandincreasedpressureonpersonalwealthcouldhaveanimpactonthis.However,evidenceshowsthatthetourismandgreeneconomysectorsarecurrentlydoingwellandareexpectedtoincreaseinthedistrict.

1.7Thanetalsobenefitsfromanairportandport.Thereisuncertaintyregardingthefutureoftheairport,however,bothofferpotentialtodeliverjobgrowth.



1.8Thanetsmanufacturingbasehasalwaysbeenlimitedandmainlycharacterisedbysmallscalebusiness.TherehasalwaysbeenadiverseeconomyinThanetwithtourismhistoricallyatitsheart.TourismandleisurecontinuestobeanimportantcomponentofThanetseconomyandretailhasbeenparticularlystrongoutperformingallotherKentdistricts.

1.9Thanetsbusinessparkshavebeenslowtodevelopandthereisasignificantamountoflandavailablewhichinitselfisanopportunity.Evidencesuggeststhatonly30%offuturejobswillbeintraditionaloffice,industrialandwarehouse(ClassB)typeusesthatareoftenlocatedonbusinessparksand,therefore,aflexibleapproachtoThanetsemploymentlandisrequired.

1.10ThanethasbeenatouristdestinationformanyyearsandwhilethepopularityofseasidetourismmayhavedeclineditisstillimportantintermsofThanetseconomy.Totalemploymentacrosstourismrelatedindustriesin2011was4,089employeesalthougharoundhalfofthesewereparttime.Tourismaccountsfor9%ofThanetsemployment.AgoodvisitoreconomycanalsoprovidebenefitsforThanetresidentsintermsofleisurefacilities,attractivepublicrealmandqualityoflifewhichinturnattractbusinesstothearea.

1.11ThanetsstrengthinthevisitoreconomystemsfromtheattractivesandybeachesincloseproximitytoLondon,theestablishedsuccessfultouristdestinationofBroadstairs,thedevelopmentoftheTurnerContemporaryGalleryandthestrongcharacterofThanetasatraditionaltouristdestination.Thanetalsocontainsawealthofheritageassetswhichareattractivetovisitorswitharound2,000listedbuildings.

1.12Tourismalongwiththegreeneconomyareperformingwellandwithcertaindevelopmentsinthesesectors,coupledwithimprovedtransportandcommunicationsinfrastructure,itisexpectedthatthesesectorswillgrowovertheplanperiodandprovideasignificantnumberofjobs.

1.13Thegreensectorincludesagriculture,fishingandconstructionactivities,butitisthegrowthinthelowcarbongoodsandservicesandrenewableenergyandtheirspinoffmanufacturingandservicebusinessesthatarelikelytodeliverjobgrowthovertheplanperiod.Thanethasalreadyseenaboveaveragedevelopmentofwindfarms,solarfarms,anaerobicdigestersandotherrenewablesourcesofenergyproductionparticularlylocatedaroundtheformerRichboroughPowerStationsite.Theforecastedgrowthseesthegreensectoraccountingfor12%oftheThanetseconomybytheendoftheplanperiod.

1.14RamsgatePortisaninfrastructureassetandisimportantforthegreeneconomysectorandasawharfforthemovementofminerals.TheCouncilsupportsthegrowthofportrelatedusesandwouldwishtoseethereintroductionofarollon/rolloffpassengerferryservice.

1.15Thanethas7ruralsettlementswithapopulationofaround6,000residentswhichmakeupjust4%ofthepopulation.TheemploymentlandreviewconcludesthatThanethasquitealowrepresentationofruralemploymententerpriseswhencomparedtotherestofthesoutheastwithlessthan10%ofVATregisteredpremisesbeinglocatedintheruralareas.NonethelesstheCouncilwishestosupportruraleconomicdevelopmentofanappropriatescale.

1.16Theoveralltargetistodeliveraminimumof5,000jobsacrossthedistrictduringtheplanperiodto2031basedonaprojectionassuminghighgrowthinthetourismandgreensectors.Theaimofthestrategyistoreduceunemploymentto3%.Inordertodothisitisnecessarytounderstandwhatsectorshavethemostpotentialtodeliver.

1.17FuturejobgrowthinThanetisexpectedtoremainstrongintowncentreandtourismuses,aswellasinpublicadministrationandeducation.Thanetisapopularretirementareaandthisbringswithitbenefitstotheeconomyparticularlyintermsofthehealthandcaringprofessionswhichareexpectedtogrow.GiventhatThanethasadiverseeconomyaflexibleeconomicstrategyisneededinordertoaccommodateallemploymentgeneratinguses.

1.18InThanetstowncentresthereisopportunitytocapitaliseonheritageassetsandculturalandcreativeindustries,creatinghubsofinnovationandentrepreneurship.ThisisincreasinglythetrendinMargate,particularlytheOldTown.

1.19TheCouncilsEconomicDevelopmentandRegenerationStrategyidentifiestourismasakeysectortosupportandenhance.AkeyelementofthisisthereestablishmentofDreamlandasanamusementpark.TheEconomicDevelopmentandRegenerationStrategyalsoidentifiesthepotentialtodevelopthegreensectorandcapturemoreeconomicbenefitsfromthewindfarmssurroundingThanetandspinoffbusinessesasopportunities.Growthinthesesectorsformsthebasisofthedistrictseconomicstrategytoplanforanddeliveratleastanadditional5000jobs.



1.20Indeliveringhighgrowthintourism,themainchallengeistoincreasevisitorspendinThanet,whichcanbeachievedbyencouragingtheovernightvisitoranddevelopingmoreofayearroundoffer.

1.21TheCouncilhasadoptedaDestinationManagementPlan(DMP)whichfocusesonindividualprojectsbringingtogetheravarietyofstakeholderstoimprovebeachmanagement,facilitatecoastalregenerationanddevelopasharedstorytoimprovemarketingforvisitors.

1.2230%ofoveralljobgrowthisstilllikelytobefromthedevelopmentinBuseclassesfoundonbusinessparks.Thanetisstronginsmallermanufacturingfirmswhichrequiresmallerindustrialunits.Itis,therefore,importantwithinthestrategytoprotectthem.Arangeofemploymentsitesisneededtocaterforalltypesofemploymentgeneratingdevelopmentandanelementofflexibilityisneeded.

1.23ImprovingeducationandskillsinThanetisanimportantpartofgrowingtheeconomyand,therefore,thePlanseekstosupporttheprovisionofthesefacilities.

1.24Thanetsemploymentofferandrelativelyperipherallocationcombinedwithimprovingtransportandcommunicationsinfrastructuremeansthatacertainlevelofcommutingisexpected.CurrentlythemajorityofworkingagepeoplethatliveinThanetworkinThanetwithasignificantnumbercommutingtotheneighbouringdistrictsofDoverandCanterbury,aswellasfurtherafield.Improvedraillinkagesinthefuturecouldfurtherimpactonthis.Thisisnotnecessarilyaharmfultrendasitbringswealthtotheareaandbetteraccesstojobswhichincreaseslocalconsumerspend,furtherstrengtheningtheretailandleisureprofessions.ItisenvisagedparticularlythattheDiscoveryParkEnterpriseZoneestablishedinSandwichfollowingtheclosureofthePfizerpharmaceuticalplant,willimpactuponoutcommutinglevels,butitscloseproximitytoThanetisbeneficialintermsofretentionofwealthintheareaaswellaspotentialrelocationoffirmstoThanetsnearbyemploymentsites.TheproximityoftheEnterpriseZonetoThanetispositiveforemploymentandThanetseconomicstrategytakesaccountofthisinordertocomplementDiscoveryParkandbenefitfromit.

1.25Jobgrowthinthedistrictwillbesupported,promotedanddeliveredby

allocationandretentionofemploymentlandandpremisesthatarefitforpurposeacrossthedistrict

flexibilityofusesonemploymentland

allocationofvibranttowncentresabletoaccommodateawiderangeofcompatibleuses

beingflexiblewithregardtoholidayaccommodationreflectingandsupportedbytheCouncilsDestinationManagementPlan

providingsuitableandsufficientemploymentlandtosupportgrowthinthegreeneconomy

continuingsupportforeducationandskillsfacilitiesand

supportingthegrowthofportrelatedusesatRamsgatePort.

1.26ItisnotpossibletopredictorplanspecificallyfortheneedsofallsignificantjobcreatingdevelopmentproposalsthatmayariseoverthelifetimeofthePlanandonly30%oremploymentgrowthisexpectedtobeinthenonBuseclassesthataretraditionallylocatedonbusinessparks.TheCouncilwishestoplanpositivelyforallkindsofemploymentgeneratingdevelopmentandsuchproposalswhereneedscannotbemetwithinexistingorplannedprovisionswillneedtobeconsideredinthecontextofrelevantenvironmentalandcountrysidepoliciesandtheaspirationsofthestrategicpriorities.Accountwillalsobetakenofprospectivebenefitsarisingfromadditionalandbetterpaidlocalemployment.

ThefollowingpolicysetsouttheEconomicStrategyforthisPlan.

PolicySP02EconomicGrowth

Aminimumof5,000additionaljobsisplannedforinThanetto2031.

Theaimistoaccommodateinwardinvestmentinjobcreatingdevelopment,theestablishmentofnewbusinessesandexpansionanddiversificationofexistingfirms.Sufficientsitesandpremisessuitedtotheneedsofbusinessareidentifiedandsafeguardedforsuchuses.ManstonBusinessParkwillbethekeylocationforlargescalejobcreatingdevelopment.

Landisidentifiedandallocatedtoaccommodateatleast65haofemploymentspaceovertheperiodto2031.Landandpremisesconsideredsuitableforcontinuedandfutureemploymentuse



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willbeidentifiedandprotectedforsuchpurpose.

Thanet'stowncentresarepriorityareasforregenerationandemploymentgeneratingdevelopment,includingtourismandculturaldiversification,willbeencouraged.

ThegrowthofthePortofRamsgateissupportedasasourceofemploymentandasanattractorofinwardinvestment.

Newtourismdevelopment,whichwouldextendorupgradetherangeoftouristfacilitiesparticularlythosethatattractthestayingvisitor,increasetheattractionoftouriststotheareaandextendtheseason,willbesupported.

Developmentissupportedthatenhancestheruraleconomysubjecttoprotectingthecharacter,qualityandfunctionofThanetsruralsettlements.

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Download - Thanet District Council Online Planning Consultations - Draft Thanet Local Plan to 2031 - Preferred Options Consultation - A) Thanet Preferred Option Draft Local Plan Employment Growth

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