The Neighbourhood Plan identifies 4 sites in established employment use as shown on the Policies Map, that are of economic value to the parish and fundamental to provide local employment opportunities.
- Sandleheath Village Shop
- Sandleheath Industrial Estate
- Forres Sandle Manor School & FSM Nursery
- Rockbourne Road (Dean & Tranter)
- Proposals for the intensification or diversification of employment uses on these identified sites will be supported, provided they incorporate uses which will be compatible with existing uses in adjacent land and protect the setting of any heritage assets or landscape designations in close proximity to the site.
- Proposals should also be supported by a transport assessment in accordance with the development plan to manage satisfactorily its traffic effects on the road network and to encourage and enable improvements to sustainable transport methods.
- Proposals that require planning permission for the change of use of land or premises which result in the loss of local employment will not be supported in any circumstance, unless it can be demonstrated that the employment use will be re-provided elsewhere within the parish.
- Proposals for change of use must also demonstrate that the loss of the facility would not harm the social cohesion or self-sufficiency of the village.
This policy seeks to safeguard identified established employment locations in the village, which help support the local economy and provide employment opportunities as well as access to local facilities, goods and services. The policy would seek to protect them from a change of use to non-employment uses where planning permission is required, through evidencing their importance. (Local Plan ECON2 protects employment uses but are not site specific.)
It is recognised that some changes of use do not now require planning permission and new permitted development rights have enabled future changes of some uses from what are now Class E uses to residential uses, with such proposals requiring Prior Approval. However, the only employment listed here within Class E is the village shop.
These employment uses play an important part of the distinct function and character of the village, providing local employment opportunities and contributing to the local economy as part of a well-balanced community. Whilst the community have indicated that there is no requirement for the provision of any further locations in the future, there would be a detriment to the village if these existing business locations were lost. The village shop in particular, located at the centre of the village, provides not just local employment but plays a vital role in meeting the day-to-day needs of residents, particularly those without access to private transport. As there are no other shops within the parish, it is essential that this local facility is protected from unnecessary loss and encouraged to thrive. Respondents to early engagement put the preservation of the village shop at the top of their list, with a number of comments seeking to either provide a separate café or include one within the shop.