‘FRED in a shed’ businesses could find more land available for workshops and open storage.

The Environment Department has published a consultation document which could open the way for small firms to find it easier to get somewhere to work.

Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer (pictured) said the release of more land for small workshops had been one of the department’s objectives for some time.

‘These types of businesses have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete for the limited land within current planning policies,’ she said.

Environment minister Deputy Peter Sirett said: ‘It is vital smaller-scale sites are brought forward to meet current need and potential demand.

‘These new proposals form an important component of the department’s overall approach towards the industrial sector which also comprises of a major release of 15 acres at the Saltpans key industrial area.’