Agenda item

Economic Strategy Manager and Research & Spatial Development Officer to report.

 -  to report details on the amount of floorspace and available development land in the Borough and how this has changed over the year.

Consideration was given to a report, presented jointly by the Economic Strategy Manager and the Research and Spatial Development Officer, detailing the amount of floorspace and available employment land in the Borough, and how this had changed over the year.

The net total floor-space on Rotherham’s employment sites rose to almost 2.6 million square metres in 2006, with 60,000 sq m. constructed in the last year - 21% of the total floorspace in Rotherham has been constructed within the last 10 years. 2006 was another good year for the uptake of land for economic development, a fall on the very high amount seen in 2005 but 20.05 hectares was the second highest rate since 2000. By the end of 2006 there were 291.2 hectares of available undeveloped land in Rotherham identified for industrial or mixed use.

Since 1998 Rotherham has experienced high construction rates of new economic floorspace and high rates of uptake of land for economic development. This has resulted in an increase in the local employment rate (now close to the national average) and 24,000 new workplace jobs in the borough since 1998 (Source: ONS Annual Business Inquiry 2005). However there is no guarantee that construction / development rates will continue at this high rate (some development will undoubtedly have taken place due to funding/incentives under Objective 1 / Regeneration schemes which are coming to an end).

Board Members welcomed the excellent progress being made and the high level of activity taking place. It was noted that action was needed to utilise vacant premises and to attract new businesses to Rotherham.

Reference was also made to the need to consider any proposals from the Government to make more land available for housing and for the Council to be in a position to take advantage of any forthcoming legislation.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Board notes the progress on the development of business space within the Borough.

(2)  That the following measures be adopted to manage the existing vacancy rate on the Borough’s industrial estates:

(i)                   That the Council optimises its position on future development for speculative use, except in the case of Rotherham town centre which could greatly benefit from speculative office developments, and that the Council disposes of industrial sites only for known end users where these can be identified.

(ii)                 That the Council contacts the owners of industrial premises which are redundant, derelict or in need of significant capital investment to return them to operational use, in order to establish a programme of Council intervention.  There is scope for some older premises to be refurbished to suit particular requirements and fit respective budgets.

(iii)                That RiDO work with owners, agents and developers to market these properties and suggest alternative uses.  Where a change of use has potential planning implications, RiDO will liaise with the Planning Department on the suitability of any suggested schemes.

(iv)                That the following sectors are targeted to locate in the borough; Advanced Manufacturing and Metals (high value engineering/manufacturing) that has a modern industrial requirement, Creative and Digital Industries which are mainly office based but could have a requirement for hybrid units, Business and Professional Services that are mainly office based, and Energy and Environmental Technology Businesses that again could require hybrid units and sometimes laboratories and industrial accommodation.

(v)                 That RiDO continues to use its Key Account Management programme to improve business retention within the borough as demand for property is driven by a wide range of factors such as skills shortages, market changes etc.