N.London Land Review, UK

An important part of planning and economic development policy is ensuring that businesses have access to employment land and premises that meet their operational needs. For Local Authorities in particular, maintaining a portfolio of fit for purpose employment sites is important for ensuring a healthy balance between housing and employment growth, attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones.

Employment Land Reviews are typically undertaken as part of Local Authorities' Local Development Framework preparations. They assess the supply and demand for employment land and premises in terms of quantity, type, quality and location. Halcrow has a strong track record of undertaking Employment Land Reviews across the UK and as part of the North London study we looked at the four North London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest.

The study assessed the current supply of employment land and premises against future demand and provided a clear hierarchy of employment sites in terms of their fitness for purpose, identifying which sites should be safeguarded for employment use and which sites should be considered for release for alternative uses. Reflecting the quality of Halcrow's work, it was subsequently commissioned by Barnet and Enfield to update the findings of the study.