The order, drawn up by Wyre Forest District Council proposes to reduce the number of developments that would require planning permission in the area surrounding the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park. The Council said that it hoped that easing planning restrictions would help encourage businesses to locate in the Business Park and make it easier for existing businesses to expand their operations.
"As part of the drive to encourage and stimulate business growth within the District it is proposed to adopt a Local Development Order for the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park," the LDO said. "This Order is therefore designed to simplify the planning process to provide an incentive to businesses to locate within the District and thus provide a boost to the local economy."
The order will allow development that falls within specific employment use classes to be undertaken without the need for planning permission, which it is hoped will help to reduce costs and provide certainty for businesses within the area. It will come into effect immediately and will be in place for three years before it undergoes review.
Planning permission will automatically be granted for certain developments on cleared brownfield sites within the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park; including the development of offices, research and development uses, light and general industrial uses, storage and distribution centres and car sales and vehicle hire businesses. It will also allow some development relating to the "extension and improvement of existing business premises" within the area, for example smaller scale extensions, sub division of existing units, car parking improvements and the installation of renewable energy systems.
Certain changes of use between the employment use classes will be permitted under the LDO, for example the conversion of Offices to General Industrial or Storage and Distribution. However, it will not permit development that falls within other use classes such as residential or retail, or development that falls within the areas of Green Belt within the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park.
The LDO covers the existing businesses and land located along the Stourport Road and Worcester Road in Kidderminster, an area which has been specifically targeted as a suitable location for a LDO to be introduced to help stimulate the District’s economy.
The Council launched a public consultation on a draft LDO in March, before submitting the proposed final Order to Pickles for approval in June.
“The District Council is leading the way in taking proactive steps to ensure the planning framework is in place to support the local economy and business growth in the area," said Julian Phillips, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for place shaping."The introduction of this Local Development Order will help us to cut red tape and reduce bureaucracy creating a positive environment to expand and encourage new businesses into the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park,” he added.
