Local Development Framework Consultation

Ulverston

MIIM (and parts of the site as appropriate).

Oppose

Furness Enterprise strongly opposes the suggestions by Rawdon Property to designate E19, part of MIIM, and D.Jaynes to designate the whole of MIIM for mixed use i.e. food retail/employment. Likewise we oppose the suggestion by R.Hodgson for mixed use of MN6 for employment/housing. Our strong opposition is based on economic/regeneration grounds.

1. The only justification for removing this valuable accessible greenfield site i.e. MIIM from Green Gap protection is if it makes a significant high added value contribution to the economic development of the area. Food retail is a low added value activity and there is ample food retail provision within the Barrow TTWA, the logical self contained economic area. There are also sufficient housing sites identified without realising this valuable site.

2. Any significant retail development on the MIIM site such as a large supermarket (as proposed by Sainsburys); as an out-of-town site would have a severe negative impact on the vitality and viability of Ulverston Town Centre. This would hence be contrary not only to the South Lakeland Local Development Framework which seeks to improve the vitality and viability of Ulverston town centre, but current and proposed Government planning policy. The new Draft National Planning Policy Framework specifically states "Local planning authorities should: ...recognise town centres as the heart of their communities and pursue policies to support the viability and vitality of town centres".

3. Any redesignation of MIIM or any part of it from its current designation in the LDF as a Business/Science Park to a mixed use one i.e. employment/food retail or employment/housing would be contrary to the LDF policies of reducing dependency on lower paid sector jobs (e.g. food retailing) and nurturing Ulverston's unique cluster of high added value, knowledge-intensive engineering jobs through the provision of high quality inward investment and expansion land. Any redesignation of MIIM to a mixed use category is also contrary to the Draft National Planning Policy Framework which specifically states that authorities should "positively plan for the location, promotion and expansion of clusters or networks of knowledge driven, creative or high technology industries".

4. We reject the comments made by How Planning on behalf of Rawdon Property that an alternative and preferable use of MIIM is for the site to be released for a mix of uses comprising a retail foodstore and employment development. How Planning argue that this will be the only likely development in the short/medium term. The LDF is looking at land allocations up to at least 2020. The only justification for releasing MIIM from Green Gap protection is that it allows a significant higher added value activity assisting the development of Ulverston’s cluster of high technology industries to take place on the site. Within the time period contemplated given the developments in solid state lighting and subsea engineering, two of Ulverston's unique clusters, this type of development is very likely. A good example of the SLDC's foresight in this regard was the development of the Old Tannery site in Ulverston which was then fought over by two subsea engineering companies, Tronic and Gyrodata with Tronic winning and Gyrodata narrowly prevented from going to Houston. Also within the time frame encompassed by the LDF, there will be a general election which could completely transform public sector funding as regards regeneration particularly for high technology, high added value, knowledge intensive industries.

In summary the only justification for the release of MIIM, in part of as a whole, from its current Green Gap allocation is if, consistent with the LDF and Government current and future planning policy, it was needed for the nurturing of Ulverston's unique cluster of high added value knowledge intensive engineering jobs. Releasing part of MIIM for the development of a large supermarket would be completely contrary to that intention as well as undermining the vitality and viability of Ulverston Town Centre.

Support in part

We think that the LDF Land Allocations does need to take a long term view re land allocations so that as opportunities arise to, for instance, nurture Ulverston's cluster of high added value knowledge intensive industries these can be taken advantage of.

Option A - Allocating sites for houses and employment in the Land Allocations document

We would be very concerned if 'B' was adopted given the Government's current presumption in favour of development. Adopting 'B' could be used by developers to bully/cajole local authorities/local communities through legal pressure to release sites which had significant negative impact on local communities/residents. The Land Allocations' process goes through a democratic, consultative process which residents have a better chance of influencing.

Ulverston

M28

Oppose

Furness Enterprise oppose the designation of M28 to include food retail as proposed by NPL Estates. We are concnerened that any such redesignation could allow the development of a large supermarket in an out-of-town location. This would impact negatively on the vitality and viability of Ulverston Town Centre contrary to the LDF, current and proposed Government policy. For instance the Draft National Planning Policy Framework syas "Local planing authorities should recognised town centres as the heart of their communities and pursue policies to support the viability and vitality of town centres".