Strategic industrial locations (SILs)
Strategic Industrial Locations (SILs) are designated in the London Plan, a spatial development strategy setting out an economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of London.
SILs exist to ensure London provides a sufficient number of quality sites, in appropriate locations, to meet the needs of industrial and related sectors, such as logistics, waste management and environmental industries, utilities, wholesale markets, and so on.
There are two types of SIL:
- Preferred Industrial Locations (PILs), which are particularly suitable for general industrial, light industrial, waste management, and so on.
- Industrial Business Parks (IBPs), which are particularly suitable for research and development and other activities that require a better-quality environment.
Most SILs are more than 20 hectares in size, although some smaller areas of around 10 hectares can be of strategic importance where there is pressure on industrial land. Generally, SILs are located close to strategic transport infrastructure such as roads, rail, rivers, canals and safeguarded wharves.
The Mayor, and individual boroughs, are expected to promote, manage and protect the SILs.
Development proposals should meet the following criteria:
- They conform to the broad industrial type of activities that are prescribed as allowable.
- The strategic consolidation of the SIL should be included in an opportunity area planning framework or borough development plan.
- The proposal involves the provision of employment workspace to meet identified needs for SMEs or new emerging industrial sectors.
- The proposal involves small scale ‘walk to’ services for industrial occupiers, such as workplace nurseries, cafes and so on.
You can find out more and see the list of SILs here.
See also: Preferred industrial locations.
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