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The Plan identifies a number of potential preferred allocation sites for employment development, each with their own characteristics and ability to deliver space for a variety of B Class uses. Further assessment could usefully be undertaken to understand more precisely what each of these sites, particularly at East Horndon Hall and DHGV could most usefully deliver. The plan currently envisages a 5.5ha site for dedicated employment uses at DHGV but correctly notes at paragraph 123 that "The exact range and type of employment development at Dunton Hills is still subject to detailed site master planning, but will need to be compatible with residential uses and of a human scale which is appropriate to a garden village." Preferred Allocation 187 on land south of East Horndon Hall is specifically allocated for employment purposes with the note "Self-contained employment site capable of being linked to DHGV proposals. This allows for increased development of new homes at Dunton Hills." Finally, on this point, the Employment Typology contained in the draft IDP identifies the 5.5 hectares of employment land at DHGV as potentially including land for B1a, B1b (Research and Development,), B1c, B2 and B8 uses.
In the Promoters view the precise scale, type and location of any employment land allocation at DHGV, whether with or without the development on land south of East Horndon Hall requires further assessment. Paragraph 5.13 of the Lichfield document states that the provision of future employment land should consider carefully how businesses use premises. The report concludes on this point that "These factors mean that the Council will need to plan for a flexible employment land supply."
The changing requirements for employers and the changing nature of employment with improved technology raises genuine opportunities for new settlements such as DHGV to deliver a different form of employment generation. Economies of scale and the potential to incorporate infrastructure including high speed broadband comprehensively and from the start of development affords the opportunity to consider efficient and sustainable home working, perhaps with shared meeting facilities within the village. The Promoters continue to investigate the potential for this form of technological innovation and intend to include appropriate references within subsequent applications for planning permission. In the meantime, though it is important that opportunities of this kind are captured in any allocation policy.
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