State of the Region

IRS Framework Objective 14 - Location of Development

To ensure that the location of development makes efficient use of existing physical infrastructure and helps to reduce the need to travel.

Key Messages

• In 2006/07 there were 2676.3 hectares of undeveloped employment land commitments in the East Midlands compared to 3,085.7 in 2005/06.  

Commentary

This spatial objective is one where there are difficulties in producing indicators which link the location of development to the need to travel. The limitations of the current indicators, identified below, are recognised. The indicators are used to reflect the potential of the area for development.

According to the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Annual Monitoring Report in 2006/07, overall the region had committed 2,676.3 hectares (ha) of land for employment purposes.  Around 260 hectares of employment land was developed in 2006/07, with Northamptonshire completing over 97 hectares. Much of the recent developments have been associated with warehouse/distribution facilities.  Pressure for the development of land for B8 uses (i.e. storage and distribution centres), particularly along the M1 corridor is significant and will continue because of the locational advantages of such sites for distribution companies over this time.

In figure 14.1 it can be seen that the outstanding employment land commitments have increased from 887.2ha in 2001/02 to 2676.3 ha in 2006/07 but have decreased from when they peaked at 3,541.5 in 2002/03. Undeveloped employment land commitments vary across the region, as shown in figure 14.2, the largest areas are in the counties.

Figure 14.1 - Total outstanding employment land commitments: 2001/02 - 2006/07

Figure 14.2 - Total outstanding employment land commitments for county and unitary authorities: 2006/07

A number of regional studies have been undertaken into employment land in recent years by East Midlands Regional Assembly, the Regional Planning Body and east midlands development agency (emda). These include the Quality of Employment Land Supply Study (QUELS) 2002 and the Regional Employment Land Priority Study (RELPS) 2003. The Regional Employment Land Supply study (RELS) was commissioned by the Regional Planning Body in 2006 to update and extend the quantitative element of the original QUELS Study. This study considered employment growth projections commissioned by emda, current employment land supply and levels of past take up. The Regional Spatial Strategy Panel Report has subsequently recommended in November 2007 that local authorities, emda and sub-regional strategic partnerships work together in Housing Market Area groupings to undertake and keep up to date employment land reviews to inform the allocation of a range of sites at sustainable locations.

Land in employment use stays almost constant, while employment grows substantially with a massive shift of jobs from industrial uses to offices.  Floorspace per worker in offices is around half that in industrial uses. The result is large-scale growth in employment with little or no growth in floorspace and land occupied. The shift from industrial to office uses means that, while total land in employment use hardly changes, the industrial and office sub-totals do change considerably.

The other aspect of physical development is the development of residential properties. Many of the issues relating to housing have been covered in the housing commentary ( IRS Framework Objective 1). Further work is required to source relevant indicators for this objective for inclusion in future reports. 

Indicators: IRS Framework Objective 14 - Location of Development

County and Unitary Indicators

  * East Lindsey only reported on 2 sites

Source:Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Annual Monitoring Report 06/07, EMRA

Further sources of evidence

• East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), Annual Monitoring Report 2003/04 (February 2005), East Midlands Regional Assembly

Links to relevant sections in the Integrated Regional Strategy (IRS)

• Spatial and Transport

Links to relevant sections in the East Midlands Integrated Toolkit (EMIT)

• Location of Development
• Transport and Accessibility

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