planning policy manager - chiltern district · 2017-10-02 · planning policy manager chiltern d.c....

Planning Policy Manager CHILTERN D.C. PLANNING SERVICES

Chiltern and South Bucks District Council 1 2 DEC 2016

King George V Rd RECEIVED

Amersham

HP6 SAW

FAO: Graham Winwright 9th Dec 2016

Dear Sir,

Re: Chiltem and South Bucks Local Plan: Green Belt Options

We are writing as a group of local businesses.

Having reviewed the Draft Local Plan and the Green Belt Preferred Options Consultation we believe the councils are falling woefully short in the provision of employment sites.

The HEDNA update October 2016 proposes a net increase of 10 hectares over the next 20 years. This provision is for the whole of the district.

The HEDNA also states the following:-

Paragraph 2.26:- Based on available employment space identified by Council monitoring data and site assessments, in quantitative terms, Chiltern has insufficient office f100rspace to meet future needs up to 2026, under various scenarios of future growth. Although a reasonable amount of office stock exists across the District, much of this is ageing, lacks the flexibility which modern businesses require and is less attractive to the market. The Council will need to encourage the upgrading and renewal of existing space and consider measures to bring forward additional land supply.

Paragraph 2.27 There is a need to improve the spatial distribution of Chiltern's industrial stock to better meet with market demand. It is crucial that any new allocations are located within areas of higher demand, such as Amersham and the Chalfonts, which have good accessibility.

Paragraph 5.12 There is considered to be a lack of supply of suitable B1c/B2 stock across the FEMA area. There is an insuffiCient supply of employment locations with enough capacity to accommodate B1c/B2 industrial uses that want to expand their premises within the FEMA.

Classification: OFFICIAL PORep1377 (REDACTED)

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Paragraph 5.13 Local commercial agents consider that additional sites need to be brought forward for B1c/B2 class development, in order to accommodate SMEs.

It is our collective opinion that the only way that these objectives can be achieved is through Green Belt release and yet the Green Belt Preferred Options includes NO SUCH PROVISION in these areas.

The council state the draft plan is sound and evidence based.

What evidence is this based upon?

Our own evidence as local people running local businesses proves there is a need for a minimum 6 hectares of industrial and warehousing sites in the in Amersham and Chesham area alone.

The following local employers are actively looking for space or will need space within the next 5 years:-

Company No of Building Total Notes Employees Space Land

Required Needed ha

Amersham 18 10,000 sq ft 0.4 Large car park required for staff and Auction Rooms customer parkinq Clarks of 50 60,000 sq ft 1.4 Yard space required for 20 + lorries, Amersham staff and visitor parking Decco 55 -70 16,000 sq ft 0.5 The 100 + 30,000 sq ft 0.7 Entertainer offices The Garnett 7 4,000 sq ft 0.1 Foundation Global Infusion 67 100,000 sq ft 2.1 Have already moved part of the

business to Watford Halstan 60 40,000 sq ft 0.8 Parkinq for 60 cars and 3 lorries J & R Storage Up to 5,000 0.1

sq ft Silversons 110 5,000 sq ft 0.1 Current site is now at capacity but

more space will be required within the next 5 years

TOTAL 270,000 sq ft 6.2

Businesses such as Clarks, Halstan and The Entertainer are rooted in this area and have said they have no desire to relocate. However, all three have indicated that they are at capacity at their existing sites and need additional employment space, yet they are constrained by lack of available accommodation or land within the


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District. The figures referred to above only take account of the businesses that have taken part in our consultation and there may be other businesses which need space which are not referred to. The need for 6 hectares should therefore be considered to be an absolute minimum.

In addition there are a number of other businesses that would like to relocate Into the Chesham/Amersham area. Those that we are aware of at this stage include:-

• FlightJine Travel • Millenium FX • Screw FIX • SO Aviation • Symply Pet Foods • Timms Dairies • Winzor Pharmaceuticals • TOTAL

5,000 sq ft 7,000 sq ft 10,000 sq ft 20,000 - 30,000 sq ft 15,000 - 20,000 sq ft 40,000 - 50,000 sq ft 5,000 - 10,000 sq ft

102,000 - 132,000 sq ft

The above list was provided by a local reputable agent.

If there Is Insufficient allocation in the plan for local business expanSion and attracting new business to the area, bUSinesses will have no option but to relocate out of the District, possibly to neighbouring Hertfordshire. That is something that the business community would wish to avoid. We are committed to ensuring the future prosperity of the Chllterns and its proud history of vibrant economic activity.

We trust that these representations will be taken into full account in reviewing the proposals for Green Belt releases.

Michael Clark

Clarks of Amersham The Entertainer

Andy Garnett Chris Smith

The Garnett Foundation Halstan


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Harold Rothman

Silverson

Tony Laurenson

Global Infusion

Roger Payne

Chesham United Football Club

Chris Dell

J & R Van Rentals

Andy Birrell

Decco McMinn

Robin Harker

Dick Ellis


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Tony Molesworth

The Chesham Society .\~. Mb\lu'J\)\IIV\'I)

C \")ff\~""~


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Removals. Storage & Worldwide Shipping.

Graham Winwright Planning and Policy Manager Chiltern & South Bucks District Councils King George V Road Amersham HP65AW

Background

CLARKS OFAMERSHAM

Clarks of Amersham Ltd Higham Mead, Chesham.

Buckinghamshire. HPS 2AH. Tel: 01494 774186

Fax: 01494 774196 [email protected]

www.clarksofamersham.com

Clarks of Amersham is an award winning removal and storage company, established in 1993 by Michael and Lorraine Clark, who still run the business today. It is very much a family business with strong ties to the local area.

Current Situation :-

Clarks currently operate out of four warehouses as follows:-

Asheridge Road - 13,500 sq ft. This is a leased premises that is part of a much larger facility. The lease expires in October 2017 and the landlord is currently marketing the property. Indications are Clarks will not be able to remain in the premises beyond the existing lease

Higham Mead - 22,500 sq ft. This is again a leased premises. This lease expires in March 2018. Whilst there should be no issues renewing this lease, the premises itself is very difficult to access and as traffic and parking has increased locally in recent years getting large modern delivery vehicles to and from the site is proving more and more difficult.

Plantation Road - 5000 sq ft This is a leased property that forms part of a larger building. The lease expires in 2017. The lease is outside of The Landlord and Tenant Act and as such we have no security of tenure.

Copas Farm Amersham 4,500 sq ft. This is a leased premises. The lease expires in 2020. It is far from ideal, with access issues and is used to cope with extra demand.

Total warehouse space 45,500 sq ft

Clarks currently employ 44 full time staff, 3 part time staff and 3 sub-contractors .

In Terms of storage the business is running at capacity and having to turn down work due to lack of space.

Reguirement

Company NO.: 050368e5 Registered Office: Sterling House,S Buckingham Place. 6ellfield Road Wost. High Wycombe. Buckinghamshire HP13 SHQ


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Clarks need to expand not only to accommodate new contracts but in order to fulfil existing customer needs as their businesses grow. We believe we will need a warehouse or warehouses of between 50,000 and 60,000 sq ft dependent on eaves height. This will enable the business to grow. As the business continues to grow it would need to employ more staff. In the last five years our workforce has grown by over twenty per cent and we see no reason why this growth wouldn't continue for the foreseeable future

We do not want to move out of the local area as our staff, customers and suppliers are all local and moving would have serious implications upon all of them.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Clark

Managing Director


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~Entertainer TheToyShop.com

Boughton Business Park, Bell Lane, UWe Chalfont, Bucks, HP6 6GL Tel: 01494 737 000 Fax: 01494 737001

[email protected] www.TheToyShop.com

Graham Winwright Planning Policy Manager Chiltern and South Bucks District Council King George V Rd Amersham HP6 SAW

8th December 2016

Dear Mr Winwright,

Re: Chlltem and South Bucks Local Plan: Green Belt Options

We have considered the proposed 15 Green Belt Options in the context of the need for future employment land during the plan period.

We are very concerned that whilst a small amount of Green Belt land is proposed for release in the South Bucks area, there Is no employment land of any significance allocated within the Chiltern District.

The land to the east of Lodge Lane, Uttle Chalfont, was listed as an option during the Reg 18 Issues and Options Consultation earlier this year. We understand this has now been discounted on the basis of its AONB status, though If this was going to be a ground for excluding It, we question why it was ever supported as an option in the first place. We therefore wish to challenge whether the AONB status of this land has been scrutinised. Other shortlisted sites have AONB status so why has this one been excluded? Employment land In this location with easy access to the M25 and Chalfont and Latimer station would present local businesses in the Chiltern area a real option for relocation.

Reference Option 4: Land to South of London Road West, we believe this to be one of the few alternatives available with appropriate transport links to facilitate the development of Employment Space. This site should not be released for Residential Use but should be released for Employment Use

The 15 Green Belt Options shortlisted offer us no options for expansion. We have consulted with other local businesses and find there to be an almost unanimous conclusion that there are no options to allow expansion of our businesses locally, Owing to a failure by Chiltern and South Bucks to allocate land In sustainable locations for Employment Use. If businesses cannot expand locally then they will be forced to leave the area.

The Enll!rtaJner (_em) Umlted Reolstl!red In England No: 20SnS1 Registered address: Boughton Business Pari<. Bell Lana, UWe ChaWon~ Bucks, HP5 6GL


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~Entertainer TheToyShop.com

Boughton Business Park, Bell Lane, Uttle Chalfont, Bucks, HP6 6Gl Tel: 01494 737000 Fax: 01494 737001

[email protected] www.TheToyShop.com

We urge you to reconsider the release of Green Belt land for Employment use. We are one of a number of local businesses rooted in Chlltem District, who are making this call and we ask you to hear and respond to our collective voice.

The Entertainer (Amersham) Umlted Registered In England No: 2057757 Registered address: Boughton BUSiness Park, Bell Lane. Uttle Chi!lfan~ Bucks, HP6 6G1.


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planning policy manager - chiltern district · 2017-10-02 · planning policy manager chiltern d.c....

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