Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

9.36. In order to achieve the appropriate balance and underpin the local economy, it is essential to make provision for those types of industrial, logistics and commercial activities that do not need to be situated in Strategic Employment Areas and are not appropriate for town centres or residential locations.

9.37. Local Employment Areas (LEAs) are particularly prevalent in Dudley, and play an important role in the local economy. They offer a valuable source of mainly low-cost industrial units that are vital in providing local jobs and a balanced portfolio of sites of different sizes and quality.

9.38. Policy DLP20 is based on the approach set out in the 2011 Black Country Core Strategy, which distinguished between Strategic High-Quality Employment Areas and Local Quality Employment Areas. The LEAs in the Dudley Local Plan are the equivalent of the Local Quality Employment Areas in the Core Strategy. The EDNA recommended that the approach set out in the Core Strategy has served Dudley Borough, and the Black Country overall well and, subject to some refinement, should be continued. This has informed the policy approach of the DLP.

9.39. The characteristics and extent of the LEAs reflects the findings of the BEAR. The BEAR re-examined all of Dudley's (and the wider Black Country's) employment areas against a set of criteria based on those in the Core Strategy and with regard to the recommendations of the EDNA.

9.40. The key characteristics of LEAs are:

9.41. LEAs are designated on the Policies Map. The Plan seeks to safeguard these areas as locations for industrial and logistics activity and uses that share the characteristics of Class E(g)(ii), E(g)(iii)) and B2 and B8 uses, which are typically located within industrial areas.

9.42. The Plan also supports proposals that involve the improvement and renewal of land and premises within them, particularly where this involves older outdated industrial premises that are no longer fit for purpose. This process of redevelopment, intensification and enhancement of existing LEAs provides an opportunity to meet future growth needs.

9.43. LEAs are often vulnerable to pressure for redevelopment to other uses such as housing. However, the loss of too much local employment land will compromise the successful delivery of the Plan's employment strategy. It would inhibit economic development, endanger the viability of businesses, and affect the balance of jobs and workers. This would mean that workers located at companies in LEAs who are displaced by new, alternative forms of development, would have to travel increased distances to work and the viability and sustainability of firms would be put at risk. These areas will therefore be primarily safeguarded from non-employment uses.

9.44. Sites within LEAs may also be appropriate for uses that serve the needs of businesses and employees working in the area. Such uses include food and drink or childcare facilities. Such uses should be of a scale, nature, and location to serve the needs of the employment area, where existing facilities are inadequate and where such needs cannot be met in adjacent centres of the Borough.