AS part of the Local Development Framework process, an employment land review has shown there is a need for 44.21 hectares of employment land within Teignbridge up to 2011. The review, carried out by consultants, shows more than half of the land is required in the Newton Abbot sub-regional centre. Teignbridge Council Executive on Monday heard that the district authority's land bank is virtually developed in Heathfield and on the Brunel Industrial Estate. The uncertainty about the conclusion of the LDF had resulted in land not being made available for employment purposes while other planning uses are explored by owners. A report on The Future Direction of Economic Development 2006-2011, showed that the economic development service handled all the land disposals for the council's employment land bank in conjunction with external/internal valuers. The land bank had enabled a supply of serviced employment land to be available for businesses to purchase, and provided business support, relocation advice and pre-planning enquiries. On disposing of land the council recouped the acquisition and infrastructure costs and used capital receipts to support the council's spending programmes. With no grants available to businesses to purchase land the council has accepted stage payments from companies following land disposal. In his report, portfolio holder Cllr Tom Archer put forward four options for Teignbridge's involvement in promoting and supporting business as well as the areas where its support would be beneficial and of the greatest value. He said that one question that required addressing was how active did the council want to be in providing future employment sites to enable businesses to relocate or expand – 1) the proactive approach; 2) reactive approach; 3) passive adviser; or 4 partnership. Cllr Archer said he favoured the proactive approach where there was an option of buying land on the open market, providing the site infrastructure and then selling the land on freehold or leasehold to businesses. Included in the current capital programme as an uncommitted sum for future employment sites are site acquisitions on the Centrax site, Newton Abbot (2005/06); Dawlish (2006/07) and further site acquisitions in 2009/10 when it is hoped the LDF process will be completed. Improvement work at Broadmeadow, Teignmouth is proposed for 2009/10, with site service infrastructure work for Newton Abbot in 2010/11. The South Devon Enterprise Agency has been an achievement of the Economic Development service and it is proposed to continue the development of managed workshop units for Newton Abbot, Broadmeadow, Shutterton Dawlish, and Buckfastleigh, though whether they will be managed by the agency will be evaluated. Cllr Brian Berman warned that it was not easy going out buying land. 'I hope there is full consultation with planners and it should be thought through very carefully as to how we are going to pay for it. 'To buy land that might never be used we might end up with a land bank on our hands.' Members agreed to the proactive approach option, while they also approved the preparation of a programme of projects to take advantage of external funding schemes applicable to the area.
