Decision details

Somer Valley Enterprise Zone Local Development Order - Commitments

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Council/LPA is promoting a Local Development Order (LDO) at the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ) to enable delivery of this long-standing employment land allocation, via a master planning process.

This item brings forward the Future Ambitions paper which highlights the current manifesto commitments of the Administration and how as the SVEZ is implemented, following the adoption of the LDO, it will seek to deliver benefits to the community over and above planning requirement.

Decision:

(1)  To adopt the eight aims defined within the report that set the Council’s commitments for the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone.

 

(2)  To review progress on the Enterprise Zone regularly and to agree any further interventions required to ensure that these ambitions are being met.

Reasons for the decision:

The Council is committed to delivering the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ). This is a priority in the adopted Local Plan and the Bath and North East Somerset Economic Strategy under Cabinet paper E3499.

 

There is a market failure in the provision of employment space in Bath and North East Somerset, including in the Somer Valley where there is clear evidence of a reduction in good quality, local jobs and increase in out-commuting. The Council’s new Economic Strategy therefore prioritises action to:

 

a)  Create Resilient Businesses by building a diverse, creative, and sustainable base.

 

b)  Support Stronger Places, building resilience and sharing prosperity more fairly.

 

c)  In addition, the Economic Strategy expresses our commitment to supporting a greener economy.

 

 

Alternative options considered:

Not applicable.

Report author: Ella Thomas

Publication date: 02/02/2024

Date of decision: 01/02/2024

Decided at meeting: 01/02/2024 - Cabinet

Effective from: 10/02/2024

Accompanying Documents: