The Industrial Development Certificate (IDC) scheme was introduced by the
UK government in the late 1940s to directly restrict the positions of sites on which companies could open factories.
History
As a result of the
Town and Country Planning Act 1947, an industrial development certificate (IDC) had to be obtained from the government (
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...
, and later the
Department of Trade and Industry (formed in 1970) which became the Department of Industry in 1974) if a company wanted to expand an industrial plant beyond a regulated area of 5,000 square feet, before the company could seek
planning permission for that industrial development.
19 June 1968
/ref> The planning permission could then be refused.
It allowed central government to have direct control over where industry could and could not be built. The government could influence the siting of industry. Companies were also encouraged to open new factories in a government-authorised Development Area, also known as an "assisted area". The Industry Act 1972
The Industry Act 1972 was an Act of the British Parliament passed by Edward Heath's Conservative government.
Background
The Act, in the words of Treasury civil servant Leo Pliatzky, was intended to "strengthen our industrial capacity so as t ...
allowed areas of the UK to be given assistance for industrial development (Section 7 and Section 8). The Industrial Development Act 1966 and Local Employment Act 1970 also designated the areas where the government wanted industry to be sited.
On 4 December 1981, the IDC scheme was suspended, as it was believed by the government that it was a psychological barrier to new investment, although it was believed that the scheme had been of help in the 1960s and early 1970s. From 1975 to 1981, out of 7,000 applications for an IDC, only 28 had been refused - a refusal rate of 0.4%.
Although not issued after 1981, IDCs were legally abolished under the Town and County Planning Act 1986.
See also
* Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947
The Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947 ( 10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 40) enabled the creation of industrial development boards with powers to raise levies from specific industrial sectors in the United Kingdom for co-ordinated action, partic ...
* Industry Act 1975
The Industry Act 1975 (c. 68) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by Harold Wilson's Labour government.
Background
The Labour Party manifesto for the October 1974 general election stated:
A new and urgent Industry Act wi ...
References
External links
Overview in 1971
1947 establishments in the United Kingdom
1981 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Industrial buildings in the United Kingdom
Planned industrial developments
United Kingdom industrial planning policy
United Kingdom planning law
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