Q: We keep hearing that the Parnham development will create “hundreds of jobs”. Is that true?
The claim needs careful interpretation. Large job numbers in planning applications are rarely a count of permanent, full-time local jobs. They usually combine several different types of work into one headline figure, which can give a misleading impression.
Q: What kinds of jobs are usually included in these claims?
Typically, they bring together:
- short-term construction work during the build
- seasonal or part-time hospitality and events roles, and
- “indirect” jobs estimated using economic models
When these very different things are added together, the total can sound much larger than the long-term reality.
Q: Are construction jobs a lasting benefit for the area?
Construction work is temporary by nature. Once the building phase ends, those jobs disappear.
It is also common for specialist construction workers to come from outside the local area, which limits the long-term benefit to nearby communities.
Q: What about jobs once the development is up and running?
Most ongoing roles are likely to be linked to hospitality, events and estate operations. These types of jobs are often:
- seasonal or event-based
- part-time rather than full-time
- dependent on commercial success and visitor demand
They can have value, but they are not the same as stable, long-term employment that supports local economic resilience.
Q: What are “indirect jobs” and why are they included?
Indirect jobs are estimates of employment supported through supply chains and local spending. They are calculated using standard economic models rather than direct evidence.
These models assume that labour, supplies and spending stay local. In practice, this is uncertain, especially for high-end, privately run developments where profits, suppliers or staff may be drawn from much wider areas.
Q: Does planning policy just look at how many jobs are created?
No. Planning policy is concerned with sustainable and appropriate economic benefit, not headline numbers. Decision-makers are expected to consider:
- whether jobs are long-term or temporary
- whether they meet local needs and skills
- whether benefits flow into the wider community
- and whether claimed benefits clearly outweigh any harm
Simply quoting a large number is not enough.
Q: Could jobs be created without this scale of development?
That is an important question. The presence of some economic activity does not automatically justify the scale, location or impacts of a development. Planning decisions are about balance and proportionality.
Q: So what is a more realistic way to view the “hundreds of jobs” claim?
A more realistic view is that:
- there may be some temporary construction work
- some ongoing hospitality and estate roles
- and some additional economic activity
But these should be understood as limited in scale, mixed in quality, and dependent on optimistic assumptions, rather than as a large pool of permanent local jobs.
Q: Why does this matter for residents?
Once permission is granted, the community lives with the consequences for decades. That is why it is important that economic claims are understood clearly and not overstated.
Taking a measured, realistic view of job creation helps ensure decisions are made in the long-term public interest, not on the basis of headline claims alone.