Affordable town/village business premises
Is anyone else finding it a problem to find start up business premises? Is this similar to the housing situation, in that there is plenty of it, but there is very little that is affordable.
Asking around quickly we have come across a number of people who are looking for premises to run a business from.
How big is this problem ?? It seems there is a need for start up business/workshops/farm buildings/barns, that could include a range of business uses.
Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 12/9/11 6:36 PM
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This is something PDC should be more proactive on. The person to contact there is Richard Wilson who may have up to date information on the trading estate development. I understand someone is willing to build there if people sign up to rent units. I should add that last time I asked I was told that councilors thought new businesses should be at Winfrith or Holton Heath which is totally useless.
This is a must for Swanage. Increasingly, start-ups are the wave of the future for places such as ours. Affordable units with reliable broadband are the key to the future. PDC is open to approaches; let's get going on this. After all, every successful local business will contribute to local taxes and the economy. Swanage must not become just for OAP's (though we love them to bits - really, we do!!).
There is also the ongoing saga of the business units which are supposed to be built next to the new rubbish dump off Victoria Avenue. We put our name down for one when they were first announced early 2010 and told they would be ready to move into by early 2011, then were told that it would be summer 2011 and now told it will be early 2012. I know several business owners who want to move from their home offices/small units to something larger but dont want to have the hassle and expense of driving to Holten Heath or Poole where they are cheaper to rent but the travel costs would soon offset any saving.
All you need to do is grant planning permission to a farmer to put up some units in a corner of his field. Far more profitable than growing carrots. BUT you have to ignore the groans of outrage from locals complaining about the increased noise and traffic etc.
"All you need to do is grant planning permission to a farmer to put up some units in a corner of his field."
What do you think the new development in Victoria Avenue is? If only is was so simple. Where Purbeck lags is in the use of redundant farm buildings and small rural workspace developments round them. As soon as you cross the border into North Dorset you see them.
If you want to expedite this, all you need do is take Purbeck District Council out of the equation. They have been talking about this industrial estate for 20 years.
When I rule the world...........
Is someone from PDC/STC/planning/with planning knowledge able to input into this discussion, it would be really helpful. Are we able to find out how many affordable start up units are needed at this present time.
Its a shame that the PDC/Sibbett Gregory workshops at Victoria Avenue seem to be unaffordable for start up businesses, as so much land has been set aside. Would it be possible for less expensive workshops to be supported on this land. People who live in this area are able to think creatively about how to make a living and there there are business opportunities. We hear a lot about villages and towns needing to be sustainable. How can we become sustainable and self sufficient if there are no affordable business premises available to rent/buy ??
Two priorities for this area are affordable housing and affordable businesses. Plenty of existing buildings/houses and land for both. Where is the will to support this. If farmers would like to diversify then could they please be encouraged and supported by planning policy to enable some of their derelict farm buildings to come forward for affordable workshops and affordable housing.
There is a high risk many local people will not being able to financially support themselves and their families if both are not supported soon.
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