The Employment Land Review (ELR) is not a statement of council policy but is a technical evidence document that will be used, along with other evidence, to inform the preparation of planning policy. The document is also commonly known as the Employment and Economic Land Assessment (EELA).
The purpose of an ELR is to:
- assess the future demand for and supply of employment land and premises
- to assess the suitability of sites, whether existing, permitted or proposed for future employment land
- to identify sites which are unlikely to be needed by the market or are now unsustainable for employment development
- to help develop appropriate future policies and proposals for strategic planning
- to improve systems for monitoring outcomes and reviewing employment policies
The study focuses on employment space needs for B Class Use (Business, General Industrial and Storage or Distribution). It also considers in broad terms the future employment potential and land needs of other non B Class economic uses such as retail, tourism, healthcare, waste management and education.
Although the ELR identifies and appraises potential new sites and locations for employment use, the decision as to whether or not these will be taken forward will be made through public consultation. This forms part of the local plan process for Lewes and the Employment Land Local Plan for Eastbourne in line with the councils' Statement of Community Involvement.
