Gravity Local Development Order
The council has adopted a Local Development Order for the Gravity Enterprise Zone, which is located near Puriton, just off Junction 23 of the M5, previously known as the former Royal Ordnance Factory. The site is an identified strategic growth location, and benefits from an existing planning consent for employment. This has already facilitated the remediation of the site and the completion of the new link road.
The council agreed the Gravity Local Development Order on 22nd December 2021, subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement and minor amendments to the documentation to incorporate the results of public consultation. On 23rd February 2022 the Gravity Local Development Order was formally adopted.
The Gravity Local Development Order sets out a simplified planning process to facilitate the delivery of substantial commercial floorspace (up to 1.1 million square meters for an advanced manufacturing facility and smart campus, including a wide range of supporting uses and associated infrastructure). Proposals coming forward that comply with the parameters and conditions of the Local Development Order will not require any formal application for planning permission. The Local Development Order therefore represents a streamlined, flexible, and agile planning process for future occupiers.
What are Local Development Orders
Local Development Orders are positive planning tools which provide the opportunity to incentivise development in a particular location by simplifying the planning process and making investment more attractive. They support the delivery of a site by effectively granting consent for particular types of development that the Local Planning Authority wish to see come forward by setting development parameters or zoning. They are proactive in reducing uncertainty and acting as a marketing and delivery tool by offering a quicker and more agile planning process. More information generally on Local Development Orders and the process for preparing them is available from the Local Development Orders Frequently Asked Questions document.
Purpose of the Gravity Local Development Order
Gravity is at the centre of national, regional, and local thinking in terms of clean growth objectives and adapting to climate change. The Local Development Order will assist in accelerating the site’s realisation and delivery of its clean growth ambitions. It will enable the Council and Gravity to respond quickly to new opportunities and complement the site’s Enterprise Zone status by offering a more agile and responsive planning process. This will be a significant competitive advantage when promoting the site both nationally and internationally to potential occupiers.
What the adopted Gravity Local Development Order permits
The adopted Gravity Local Development Order effectively grants planning permission for future proposals in accordance with development parameters set out in the Order without the need for a planning application. The acceptance of any development/use is dependent on compliance with the other key management documents of the Local Development Order, the conditions, design guide, conclusions of the Environmental Statement and the mitigation checklist.
Development permitted by the adopted Gravity Local Development Order is set out below:
| Use class | Definition | Limitations | Indicative use relating to Gravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2 / B8 / E(a-g) / Sui Generis | General Industrial Use | Total Gross External Area (GEA) of up to 1,000,000m2 | Advanced manufacturing (AM) |
| Use class | Definition | Limitations | Indicative use relating to Gravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| B8 | Storage or Distribution | Total Gross External Area of up to 1,000,000m2 | Data Centre / AM Supply Chain |
| E (a) to (g) | Commercial, Business and Service | Included in above | Research and development |
| Sui Generis | Uses which do not fall within the specified use classes above. | Included in above | EV charging station |
| Use class | Definition | Limitations | Indicative use relating to Gravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Hotels, boarding and guest houses where no significant element of care is provided | Total Gross External Area of up to 35,000m2 | On site hotel. Temporary workforce accommodation for contractors (not included within the GEA limitations) . |
| C2 | Residential Institutions | Included in above | Day nursery, sport and leisure indoor facilities, gym, retail, café, health centre |
| E (a) to (g) | Commercial, Business and Service | Included in above | Community building – replacement 37 Club |
| F | Local Community and Learning | Included in above | Homes to meet commercial operator requirements |
| Use class | Definition | Limitations | Indicative use relating to Gravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3 | Dwelling houses | Up to 750 dwellings | Homes to meet commercial operator requirements |
In addition, the adopted Local Development Order permits operations or engineering works necessary to enable the development of the site, associated infrastructure and minor operations. The permitted development and uses are set out in full within the Local Development Order document.
Local Development Order documents
The adopted Local Development Order includes number of documents which were subject to public consultation. These can be broadly divided into the following 6 categories:
- Adopted Gravity Local Development Order - sets out the main mechanics of the Local Development Order in terms of the development parameters and permitted uses and includes conditions and site boundary plan. It also includes the Statement of Reasons for preparing the Local Development Order.
- Gravity Local Development Order Compliance Form - this is the form that occupiers will need to complete to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Local Development Order and includes checklists for mitigation and design principles.
- Gravity Local Development Order Design Guide - sets out the key design principles for which proposals will need to demonstrate compliance.
- Section 106 Agreement - relates to the required planning obligations to support the development of the site.
- Environmental Statement – a non-technical summary of the Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken for the LDO . The full document in chapter by chapter topics is available through the Planning Online link below.
- Compulsory Purchase Order
- Other Documents - include other relevant technical documents and strategies supporting the Local Development Order available through the Planning Online link below.
The complete list and structure of documents is shown in the Local Development Order document diagram.
Accessing the full LDO Documentation
To access all the LDO documentation (including the full Environmental Statement and the Other Documents) please use the link below which will take you to the Council’s planning online pages where you can access all material relating to the LDO including consultation material and responses as well as the final LDO documents.