Policy J/AW: Affordable workspace and creative industries

1. Proposals for new office and R&D development (use classes E(g)i and E(g)ii) over 1,000 square metres will be required to provide a minimum of 10% of net additional floorspace (GIA) as affordable workspace.

  a. Within the Defined Development Extent of Cambridge and allocations on the edge of Cambridge, and within specified established science and business parks in Greater Cambridge and proposed extensions to these allocated within this Plan, the affordable workspace discount should be a minimum of 30% below prevailing market rents in perpetuity;

  b. Within South Cambridgeshire, outside the Defined Development Extent of Cambridge and specified established science and business parks, the affordable workspace discount should be a minimum of 20% below prevailing market rents in perpetuity.

2. Proposals for new Industrial and Storage developments (use classes E(g)iii, B2 and B8) over 2,500 square metres will be required to provide a minimum of 10% of net additional floorspace as affordable workspace (GIA) at a minimum of 20% below prevailing market rents in perpetuity.

3. The details of the form and nature of affordable workspace to be provided will be agreed with the councils on a case-by-case basis however, the following requirements will apply when affordable workspace is secured:

  a. The type and specification of affordable workspace must address an identified local need. Workspace types may be affordable artist studios, office, research and development, light industrial or general industrial workspace and maker spaces in light industrial use.

  b. Subject to paragraph 3c. below, affordable workspace schemes must be operated and managed:

    i. By an affordable workspace provider on the Councils’ approved list; or

    ii. By the owner, or alternative party, where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the council that they have the necessary skills and experience.

  c. Where occupiers are from specific sectors that have cultural or social value such as cultural organisations, charities, public health services, voluntary and community organisations, the councils will explore opportunities for long term management and delivery of workspace by the occupiers, in which case it will need to be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Councils that the occupiers have the necessarily skills and experience to do so.

  d. Where affordable workspace is required:

    i. An Affordable Workspace Statement must be submitted at the outline or full planning application stage; and

    ii. An Affordable Workspace Operational Management Plan must be prepared by the developer, submitted to and approved by the Councils at least three months prior to the first occupation of the development;

  e. The affordable workspace should be made available for occupation at the same time as, or prior to, the first occupation of 50 percent of the non-affordable element of the remaining economic floorspace in the development, unless justified on site specific circumstances. The 50% threshold may be reviewed through viability evidence or phasing discussions on particularly large or complex schemes; and

  f. Affordable workspace secured should be provided on-site unless a suitable alternative location within a suitable location near to the development, such as within the science or business park in which the development is located, is agreed with the councils.

4. Payment in lieu will only be acceptable in the following circumstances:

  a. Where an occupier requires exclusive use of a single office property, such as a global headquarters building, evidenced by a signed agreement for lease, pre-let or owner-occupier commitment confirming the exclusivity requirement; or

  b. Within developments involving multiple landowners, where the applicant demonstrates that coordinated on-site delivery and long-term management has been explored and is not reasonably achievable; or

  c. Where the applicant and Councils agree that an in-lieu contribution would deliver materially greater economic, operational or placemaking benefit than on-site provision; or

  d. Where the applicant demonstrates, through an independently assessed open-book Viability Assessment undertaken in accordance with the Councils' adopted viability methodology, that on-site provision is not viable.