The Employment Development Plan Document (DPD) provides the planning framework for commercial and industrial development in the London Borough of Hounslow based on the following four objectives:
1.To maintain and enhance Hounslow’s employment role in both a strategic and local context, promote diversity in business, a range of employment sectors and size of businesses.
2.To provide capacity to accommodate future employment growth, whilst aiming to achieve an appropriate balance in supply and demand for employment land.
3.To ensure that development is appropriately located and the negative impacts of existing and new development on the environment, economy and community are minimised. In minimising the impacts of existing and new development on the environment, the council will require the safeguarding of nature conservation interests. Development that is not in compliance with the requirements for the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 is not considered to be in accordance in the Employment DPD.
4.To improve equality of opportunity for residents in the borough through employment, training and education, and ensuring developments are accessible to all.
The DPD replaces all the employment and economic development objectives and policies, and a number of implementation policies, in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) adopted in December 2003. Together with saved policies in the UDP and the London Plan, the Employment DPD will have formal development plan status on adoption.
The plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 20 July 2007 following which there were two stages of formal consultation, the first in July/August 2007 on the submitted plan and the second in November/December 2007 on a site allocation put forward in the first consultation.
A pre-examination meeting was held on 9 January 2008 following which an agenda was published for the Examination of the Employment DPD. The examination hearings took place between the 11 March and 4 April 2008.
The inspector’s report on the examination was received on 8 August 2008. The Inspector found the Employment DPD to be ‘sound’ subject to a number of recommended changes. The report and the inspector’s covering letter are available to download from this page.
Accordingly, the Employment DPD is sound and will be formally adopted by the council in due course. It will now be used when making decisions on relevant planning applications. The council’s official view on the status of the Employment DPD prior to adoption can be downloaded on this page.
A final version of the DPD is being prepared for adoption by the council as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Contact us
Strategic Planning Policy
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Tel: 020 8583 5202
E-mail: ldf@hounslow.gov.uk