I DO NOT profess to know exactly how many acres of unused industrial floor space we have at the moment but I do know it is better measured in acres than square feet and that the answer runs well into the thousands.
Our industrialists have deserted us for better mainland opportunities, and it is a sad fact of life that they cannot pack up and take their old floor space with them. It just sits there empty.
The obvious thing to do in these circumstances is to let others use it. If the manufacturers are gone then widen the definition of permissible users to include service industries. They will certainly benefit from the lower rents and this will induce them not to follow their manufacturing colleagues across the border.
It may seem obvious to you. It seems obvious to me. It is not at all obvious to the people at the Lands Department. They want no part of it.
In fact, just last year we had the case of a pager company told to stop operating out of industrial premises because it was using pagers rather than making them. The company protested and took the matter to court where the judge, who clearly shared the common view of what is obvious, ruled in its favour.
His ruling did not last long. The Lands Department objected, the case went to appeal and the company lost. This is where things officially stand at the moment. That empty floor space must remain empty unless it is used to do things we no longer do.
Even the Lands Department, however, is finally beginning to realise how silly this all is. On Tuesday acting director John Corrigall put out a practice note announcing a streamlined process through which owners of industrial buildings can apply for waivers from the strict definition of manufacturing.
