Fareham Local Development Framework
Business Needs Survey
Executive Summary
Fareham Borough Council commissioned Hughes Ellard consultants to carry out a Business Needs Survey as evidence for the Borough's Local Development Framework. The survey was primarily concerned with:
- The floor space needs of existing business in Fareham;
- The provision and management of the existing economic development land;
- Opportunities and demand for locally generated town centre office development;
- The availability of infrastructure, particularly telecoms, and the level of take-up of internet technology
The survey canvassed the views of Fareham's businesses to establish a baseline of information on the local economy. The survey was both questionnaire (postal) and interview based (face-to-face and telephone).
Results indicate that business in Fareham is largely home grown or from the South Hampshire area and over half have been in Fareham more than 10 years. Fareham's businesses are well integrated into the South Hampshire economy, with equally close links to both Portsmouth and Southampton, reflecting the power of the M27 as means of communication.
The typical Fareham business is an independent operator occupying less than 5,000 sq ft and employing fewer than 25 people. Attitudes towards growth prospects over the next five years are positive. There is a high level of satisfaction with Fareham as a business location, particularly among smaller companies. Fareham has a diverse economy that is not dominated by particular sectors or by a single major employer.
Fareham businesses are generally satisfied with their current site and premises perhaps reflecting the fact that most premises are modern and built to a good specification. However, almost half predict that they will need more space in the next 5 years and expect to relocate, preferably within Fareham. The two key factors in the decision to move are the availability of sites and premises and the ability to retain their workforce.
Office businesses are in the majority, although there is a significant group of large industrial employers. Smaller businesses predominate and the survival rate of local start-ups is high.
There is evidence of concentrations of firms from particular industries, particularly the marine and IT sectors. This is sometimes referred to as a 'business cluster'. Clusters are important because they can offer competitive advantages to firms through increased expertise, economies of scale, better information, supporting infrastructure and stronger linkages.
Traffic congestion and poor public transport links to business locations are a serious concern to the business community and road congestion in Fareham is seen as the single biggest constraint on business.
A complete copy of the Business Needs Survey is also
available to download as a PDF (407 Kb) 
Help with Portable Document Format
Contact
For further information or advice please contact us:
Telephone: 01329 236100
E-Mail: planningpolicy@fareham.gov.uk
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