3.43 Rural Eden has traditionally relied heavily
on agriculture and, to a lesser extent, other primary industries,
whilst Penrith has developed principally as a service centre for
the surrounding area. More recently newer industries have been
established which capitalise on the good lines of communication
running through the District. These include warehousing,
distribution and haulage companies. In recent years the tourist
industry has begun to play an increasingly important and rapidly
growing role in the local economy.
3.44 This pattern of employment has resulted in
low unemployment rates. However continuing structural change in the
agricultural industry and, in some areas, reliance on one or two
large employers, has left the economy in a vulnerable position with
a concentration of jobs at the lower end of the market. In order to
strengthen the local economy it is important to encourage continued
diversification of employment opportunities especially in the
professional and managerial sectors.
3.45 In April 1996 there were 804 people
officially unemployed and claiming benefit in Eden District,
representing 3.3% of the District's work force. Although this
figure is not high compared with Cumbria County or national
figures, there are pockets of high unemployment, most notably on
Alston Moor.
3.46 Government policy recognises the
importance of the rural economy in terms of both its contribution
to the national economy and in helping to promote the social and
economic well-being of rural communities. It recognises the
attraction of rural locations to many businesses and the potential
of many enterprises to satisfactorily locate in smaller
settlements. Environmental considerations remain important but need
to be balanced against the need to ensure that economic growth and
the requirements of individual businesses are assisted by a
constructive planning framework which also has regard to the
guidance given in Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 concerning the
need to plan for less travel. In this latter respect, the Local
Plan strategy seeks firstly to locate major employment sites in the
Penrith area where access to established transport networks is at
its best. Secondly, in support of the District's many rural
communities which are unable to support viable public transport
networks, small employment allocations are made in settlements
which have an established service infrastructure, thereby providing
employment opportunities close to homes and minimising the need to
travel to work.
3.47 Working within the context provided by
central government, strategic policy, in the form of the Cumbria
and Lake District Joint Structure Plan 1991 - 2006, requires that
there should be at all times a five year supply of employment land
within the market sectors: business park, strategic employment site
and local employment site. Its policies also provide protection
from redevelopment for existing employment sites, which will
normally be permitted to expand. The Plan is also supportive of
employment opportunities in rural towns, by requiring that land is
made available to meet local needs, and encouraging development and
conversion of premises for small scale employment in rural
areas.
3.48 Having regard to the foregoing issues, and
to the general plan principles set out at the beginning of this
document, a number of objectives have been identified for that part
of the Local Plan dealing with employment land. These are set out
below while the following paragraphs detail the associated policies
and supporting text.
Objective 18 to meet the needs
of the District's communities for economic growth through the
allocation of a range of sites throughout the District.
Objective 19 to promote the
diversification and strengthening of the rural economy through the
promotion of a range of varied employment opportunities in and
adjacent to rural settlements.
Objective 20 to promote high
environmental standards on existing and new employment sites.
Objective 21 to promote the
relevant elements of the Council's Economic Development Strategy
through land use policies and provisions.
