2.17 Not all employment proposals can be foreseen and planned for in local plans; development schemes for large single uses, like power stations, oil terminals or tourist/leisure proposals, are often inappropriate on existing zoned land because of their size, scale and use. In the same way smaller scale developments on sites not allocated for employment use also need to be considered. In all of these circumstances, proposals should be tested against a set of criteria as set down in Policy 3. There is also a need to ensure that such proposals do not conflict with other policies and proposals in the structure plan.

2.18 The central theme of the structure plan is sustainable development. A part of this is recognising that land is a finite resource and that greenfield land in particular should be used responsibly and as a last resort when there are no other alternatives. Proposals should look to brownfield opportunities before greenfield sites are considered. However, it is recognised that brownfield sites are in short supply outside urban areas and that some proposals will require a specific location for operational reasons. Quarries, waste-water treatment plants, telecommunications apparatus, wind farms, oil terminals and water treatment plants are all examples of such developments.

2.19 Priority should be given to job creation and economic development where this does not lead to unacceptable damage to the environment. Partnerships like NESEDP, with European funding assistance (where available), can help to facilitate priority developments where there is market failure. Where there are funding regimes in place, the need to create and sustain jobs will be a material consideration on the outcome of development decisions.

2.20 Proposals for employment uses on unallocated sites generally should be located where a choice of transport can be offered. They should also be close to areas of population, in an effort to minimise travel distances. This will allow the proposal to take advantage of existing infrastructure and access arrangements. There are two general exceptions to this: where the proposal would present a significant risk to the population, the environment, or lead to coalescence between settlements; and where the proposal is a farm diversification enterprise linked, but subsidiary, to the existing agricultural use.