Development Management Policies - Direction of ... - Islington Council

www.islington.gov.uk 

Development Management Policies 

Direction of Travel Draft 

November 2010 

YOUR 

NEIGHBOURHOOD 

YOUR 

ISLINGTON 

Part of 

Islington’s 

Local 

Development 

Framework

Contents 

1 Introduction and Consultation Details 3 

1.1 The Policy Context 4 

1.2 Sustainable Development 6 

2 Design and Heritage 10 

3 Managing Environmental Resources 24 

4 Transport 43 

5 Housing 57 

6 Employment 74 

7 Shops, Leisure and Services 78 

8 Healthy Living 100 

9 Infrastructure and Implementation 109 

10 Monitoring 112 

1 Appendix: Local Views 114 

2 Appendix: Primary & Secondary Retail Frontages 119 

3 Appendix: Local Shopping Parades 124 

4 Glossary 136 

Development Management Policies - Direction of Travel Islington Council

1 Introduction and Consultation Details 

Development Management Policies - Direction of Travel Islington Council 

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1.0.1 When completed, the Development Management Policies Development Plan Document 

(DPD) will form part of the council's Local Development Framework (LDF). This is a set 

of planning policy documents. Together the LDF works alongside the London Plan and 

national policy. 

1.0.2 The main document in the LDF is the Core Strategy. The Core Strategy is currently being 

examined by the Secretary of State and if found sound it will become an adopted plan 

early in 2011. The Development Management Policies develops the themes and broad 

policies in the Core Strategy. 

1.0.3 This Direction of Travel document follows on from the Issues and Options document that 

we consulted on in autumn 2009. The information we get from this consultation will be 

used to produce the final draft of the Development Management Policies later in 2011. 

Consultation Details 

It is important that we get as much input as possible at this stage, when there is most scope for 

change. Your input will help inform a final draft which will be consulted on in 2011. We will be 

running an extended ongoing consultation to seek input: 

from 8 November 2010 until 31 January 2011 we welcome any comments; and 

in February / March 2011 we will then hold workshops and discussions to discuss the main 

issues and how these can inform the final draft of the document. 

At the same time we are consulting on other LDF documents called Site Allocations DPD and 

the Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan. 

You can view and comment on all the documents online at the following link: 

http://www.islington.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsultations.This means you can view everyone's 

comments as they are received and others will be able to see your comments. 

You can also respond in writing, by email to:LDF@islington.gov.uk or by post to: 

Freepost 

RSEA-CUHA-YYAS 

Planning Policy 

Islington Council 

Upper Street 

London N1 1XR 


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We will regularly update our webpage www.islington.gov.uk/LDF about progress and events. If 

you would like to be on our mailing list please email LDF@islington.gov.uk or phone 020 7527 

2618 / 020 7527 2720 . 

What is the Development Management Document? 

1.0.4 'Development Management' is a positive and proactive approach to shaping, considering, 

determining and delivering development proposals. The emphasis is on collaboration 

instead of negotiation; coming to a balanced agreement which solves problems rather 

than a compromise which doesn't meet everyone's objectives. 

1.0.5 The process is led by the local planning authority, working closely with those proposing 

developments and other stakeholders. It is undertaken in the spirit of partnership and 

inclusiveness, and supports the delivery of key priorities and outcomes. The Development 

Management Policies do not just control land uses but positively promote sustainable 

development. Development Management Policies help implement the Core Strategy. 

1.0.6 In line with Planning Policy Statement 12 (PPS 12), only policies which relate to the delivery 

of the Core Strategy objectives are included and repetition of national and London Plan 

policy is avoided. More use of national guidance (PPSs) and London Plan Policy for 

decision making is expected rather than having a policy to cover every potential 

development angle. 

1.0.7 Each policy section identifies the Core Strategy policy it helps implement. The draft 

Development Management policies are followed by some explanatory text where necessary. 

1.1 The Policy Context 

1.1.1 The council makes decisions about land-use in the borough based on national, regional 

(London) and its own local policy. These decisions affect what can be built, where, and 

how buildings are used. These decisions also affect other matters including; 

the public realm (the accessible spaces in-between buildings such as streets) 

parks and nature conservation 

the energy used by buildings 

parking 

conservation 

the accessibility and inclusive design of the the environment 

1.1.2 These decisions are guided by the Development Plan; this is made up of a set of documents 

including this document. In the next few paragraphs we explain the local Development 

Plan in more detail. 

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Islington Council Development Management Policies - Direction of Travel


1.1.3 The government produces Planning Policy Statements and supporting guidance that set 

out a general framework for planning at the regional and local level. In London, the Mayor 

produces a development strategy for greater London, theLondon Plan. Our local policies 

have to be consistent with both national policy and the London Plan. 

1.1.4 The London Plan together with parts of the Local Development Framework form the local 

Development Plan (see Figure 1.1). Development Management Policies will be part of the 

local Development Plan. The London Plan is currently being reviewed by the Mayor of 

London, Boris Johnson. A draft of the new London Plan was published in autumn 2009 

with an examination of that plan taking place in the summer of 2010. The final version of 

the plan is expected in 2011. 

Figure 1.1 Documents in the LDF and the Development Plan 

1.1.5 The council is producing a series of local planning documents which together form the 

Local Development Framework. The key document is the Core Strategyy which sets out 

the council's overall aims for what it wants planning to achieve for the borough. 

1.1.6 More information about planning is available from the planning portal 

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/ and from our own Statement of Community Involvement. 


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1.2 Sustainable Development 

1.2.1 Sustainable development is the core principle underpinning planning. At the heart of 

sustainable development is the simple idea of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, 

now and for future generations (1) . 

1.2.2 This means meeting the diverse and changing needs of all people in existing and future 

communities, promoting personal wellbeing and inclusion; creating equal opportunity for 

all and creating stability for effective community development and cohesion. Sustainable 

development recognises that to achieve this we must respect the limits of the planet’s 

environment, resources and biodiversity – both to improve our own environment and to 

ensure that the natural resources needed for life are unimpaired and remain so for future 

generations (2) . 

1.2.3 A holistic approach to sustainability requires the development of sustainable communities. 

Sustainable communities are places where people want, and are enabled to, live and 

work, now and in the future. They are sufficiently flexible and adaptable to meet the diverse 

needs of existing and future residents; are sensitive to their environment; and contribute 

to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer 

equality of opportunity and good services for all. The diagram below (Figure 1.2) expresses 

the key components needed for achieving sustainable communities. 

1 Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development. 

2 Adapted from Securing the Future, UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy 

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Figure 1.2 The Components of Sustainable Communities (Urban Design 

Compendium 2, 2007) 

1.2.4 In Islington, building sustainable communities means developing the borough as a place 

which enables people to live healthy, sustainable lives; – a place where everyone: 

is involved in decision-making around planned changes to the built and natural 

environments or to local demographics 

has access to a range of affordable, flexible, quality homes which meet their needs 

at different stages of their lives 

can walk, cycle and use appropriate public transport options in a safe, accessible and 

attractive environment 

has access to high quality open space, including the experience of nature, within 

walking distance of their homes 

is enabled to conserve energy, water and other resources, to minimise the waste they 

produce and to recycle 


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has easy access to local services and facilities, including shops selling affordable, 

fresh food 

can access a range of education, training and employment options 

has an opportunity to realise their potential and improve their quality of life 

1.2.5 All planning policies in Islington’s Local Development Framework aim to achieve sustainable 

communities. 

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2 Design and Heritage 


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Implementing Core Strategy Policy 

This chapter helps implement the following Core Strategy Policies: 

Policy 8 Enhancing Islington’s character, Policy 9 Protecting and Enhancing Islington's Built 

and Historic Environment, Policy 10 Sustainable Design, Policy 12 Meeting the housing 

Challenge, Policy 14 Retail and Services, Policy 15 Open space and green infrastructure, 

Policy 16 Play space, and Policy 17 Sports and recreation provision 

2.0.1 The Core Strategy sets out the overarching strategy for urban design and the historic 

environment in Islington while the Islington Urban Design Guide (IUDG), (a Supplementary 

Planning Document (SPD)), provides more detailed guidance. The Core Strategy 

acknowledges Islington’s unique character and the need to conserve and enhance its 

historic urban fabric whilst not stifling contemporary architecture or innovation. Traditional 

street patterns and the perimeter block approach are encouraged as part of new 

development, which should also respect the importance of human scale. 

2.0.2 Islington aspires to the highest standards of architectural and urban design in London, to 

be at the forefront of sustainability and to preserve and enhance the borough’s built heritage 

and its settings. Innovation and tradition need to be complementary for successful physical 

regeneration and achievement of high quality inclusive public spaces. The following policies 

suggest ways Islington can achieve these aspirations. 

Policy DM 1 

Design Criteria 

A. All forms of development are required to be of high quality, incorporate inclusive 

design principles, and make a positive contribution to the character and local 

distinctiveness of an area. 

For a development proposal to be supported it is required to: 

i. be sustainable, durable and adaptable; 

ii. be safe and inclusive; 

iii. improve the quality, clarity and sense of spaces around or between buildings; 

iv. enhance legibility and have clear distinction between public and private spaces; 

v. sustain and reinforce a variety and mix of uses; 

vi. improve movement through and repair fragmented urban form; 

vii. respect the historic context, local vernacular, and locally distinctive patterns of 

development and landscape; 

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viii. reinforce and complement local distinctiveness and create a positive sense of place; 

ix. not result in an adverse effect on the amenity of nearby occupants by noise impact, 

hours of operation, vibration, pollution, fumes between and within developments, 

overshadowing, loss of privacy, loss of direct sunlight and daylight, over dominance, 

creating undue sense of enclosure and poor outlook, and 

x. not prejudice the satisfactory development of adjoining land and/or the development 

of the surrounding area as a whole. 

B. Development proposals are required to demonstrate, through the use of detailed 

drawings and a written statement, how they have successfully addressed the elements 

of the site and its surroundings listed below. Greater onus for demonstrating this will be 

placed on major developments, and smaller developments on sites in prominent or 

sensitive locations. 

i. Historic context, such as distinctive local vernacular form, scale and details which 

contribute to its character as a place; 

ii. Urban form, such as building lines, frontages, plot sizes and patterns, building 

heights, storey heights and massing; 

iii. architectural quality, such as colour, type, source and texture of detailing and 

materials used; 

iv. Movement and spatial patterns, such as definition, scale, use, detailing and surface 

treatment of routes and spaces; 

v. natural features, such as topography, trees, boundary treatments, planting and 

biodiversity; 

vi. visual context, such as location and scale of landmarks, strategic and local and 

other site specific views, skylines and silhouettes, and scale and form of townscape 

set pieces or urban compositions, and 

vii. where appropriate, demonstrate an understanding of the significance of heritage 

assets that may be affected. 

Further detail on Islington's design requirements are set out in the council's Supplementary 

Planning Documents (SPD) including the Islington Urban Design Guide SPD. 

2.0.3 Developments must be designed for the long-term and use the minimum necessary amount 

of resources over their lifetime. The materials used and building design will enable the 

development to be easily maintained and altered for different uses and respond to the 

different needs of its users over its lifetime. 

2.0.4 Developments must meet the principles set out in 'Safer Places' (ODPM, 2004) and 

'Secured by Design' through consultation with Islington's crime prevention design advisor; 

and achieve Inclusive Design as set out in policy DM2. 


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2.0.5 Legible developments help people to find their way around both the development and the 

wider areas, and understand how a place works. Developments that have clear distinction 

between public and privates spaces have clear public fronts and private backs of buildings, 

give clear indication of ownership and management responsibility for these spaces. 

2.0.6 Developments need to consider the surrounding and historic street and block pattern of 

the site to design streets and spaces which enable people to move easily through an area. 

In some places in Islington older streets patterns have been disrupted by later development 

blocking routes and making it difficult to navigate and confusing to move around. 

2.0.7 The design and layout of buildings must enable sufficient sunlight and daylight to penetrate 

into, and between, buildings, and ensure that adjoining land or properties are protected 

from overshadowing. To protect privacy for residential developments and existing residential 

properties, there should be a minimum distance of 18 metres between windows of habitable 

rooms. This does not apply across the public highway. 

2.0.8 Adverse effects on the amenity of nearby occupants include any proposed development 

which prejudices renewable or low carbon energy supply (e.g. by detrimentally 

overshadowing solar panels or interfering with the flow of exhaust CHP gases). In such 

situations the proposed development should be redesigned to avoid the adverse impacts. 

Policy DM 2 

Landscape 

A. Development proposals are a required to take a holistic approach to landscape design 

and ensure it is considered as part of the whole development. For all developments full 

landscape details should be set out in a Landscape Plan submitted with the planning application 

(excluding householder applications, changes of use, extensions of less than 100m 2 and minor 

works, where there will be no new units, no intensification and no significant sustainable design 

and construction impacts). 

Also refer to Policy DM18 (Landscaping and Biodiversity) for detailed design requirements. 

Inclusive Design 

2.0.9 Inclusive environments derive from an understanding of the needs of our increasingly 

diverse communities and adapt to their different and evolving demands. Inclusive 

environments are easily adaptable and functional, they take into account the views 

expressed by users and consider the design and management of the environment 

inextricably linked. Where facilities and amenities are conveniently located, appropriate 

and accessible to all, sustainability is enhanced. Multiple and unwelcome, forced and/or 

premature moves are also reduced, promoting cohesion, stability and the capacity for local 

community development. 

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2.0.10 Islington’s Core Strategy has set out a clear commitment to Inclusive Design; an approach 

to design that, by placing people at the heart of the design process, enhances the quality 

of our spaces and places, ensures their continuing relevance and minimises the need for 

awkward, costly and unsightly alteration in the future. 

2.0.11 The council’s commitment to Inclusive Design is underpinned by its duties under the 

Equalities Act 2010 to: 

tackle prejudice and eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation; 

advance equality of opportunity; 

promote understanding and foster good community relations; 

remove or minimise disadvantages; 

take steps to meet relevant identified needs in appropriate ways; and 

encourage participation in public life or in any other activity in which their participation 

is disproportionately low. 

2.0.12 A requirement that all new developments adopt the principles of Inclusive Design is one 

way in which the council works towards meeting these duties, because, as a design 

philosophy, it takes into account and responds to the diversity of, and differences between, 

all community groups. 

2.0.13 Those groups are described in current equalities legislation as: 

age; 

disability (including mobility, visual and hearing impaired people and people with 

learning difficulties and or mental health problems); 

gender reassignment; 

marriage and civil partnership; 

pregnancy and maternity; 

race; 

religion or belief; 

sex; 

sexual orientation. 

Policy DM 3 


A. All developments should demonstrate that they: 

i) provide for ease of and versatility in use; 

ii) 

iii) 

deliver safe, legible and logical environments; 

produce places and spaces that are convenient and enjoyable to use for everyone, and 


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iv) bring together the design and management of a development from the outset and over 

its lifetime. 

2.0.14 Ease of use and versatility are important features of an Inclusive Design. 'Ease of use' 

means that access to, and enjoyment of, an environment should require minimal strength, 

stress and effort and should be achievable in comfort; independently and/or with assistance 

delivered on the users’ terms. 'Versatility' suggests a lack of prescription in a design and, 

as a result, flexibility in use. Versatile solutions take into account diverse and evolving 

needs, whilst minimising the need for structural adaptation - an essential aspect of 

sustainability. 

2.0.15 Logic, safety and legibility are essential aspects of an Inclusive Design because logical 

layouts and clear sight-lines enable spaces and places to be understood without recourse 

to excessive text based signage. They inspire a sense of security and promote confidence, 

minimising the need for active surveillance and/or personal support. 

2.0.16 Where barriers are designed out, and flexibility built in, places become attractive and 

enjoyable for all to use. The provision of accessible, essential and appropriate services 

to support a development will also provide for, and enhance, independence and contribute 

to the cohesion and sustainability of the community. 

2.0.17 The success of an Inclusive Design will often be affected as much by its management as 

by its physical form. Shortcomings in the latter frequently place unreasonable and 

unsustainable demands on the former, and vice versa. Implications for the management 

of spaces and places, particularly when considering diverse and changing needs, should 

be considered and resolved at the earliest design stages. 

2.0.18 To assist designers and developers to achieve these aims the council has produced a 

series of SPDs, which explore different aspects of our environment (housing and landscape 

are two examples). Those documents describe objectives, and design considerations and 

then suggest ways in which the objectives can be achieved. Designers and developers 

are also directed to relevant national design guidance documents, including British 

Standards and other specific advice. These documents can be found on the council's 

website. 

Islington's Built Heritage 

2.0.19 Islington's built heritage is a very important aspect of development management within 

the borough due to its extensive quantity and quality of historic buildings and spaces which 

contribute greatly to its character, economy and community pride. These are irreplaceable 

features which need careful protection and management. Islington currently has 40 

designated conservation areas covering around 50% of the total local authority area. There 

are also around 4,500 statutorily listed buildings in the borough and even more locally 

listed buildings. 

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2.0.20 Conservation areas, and statutorily and locally listed buildings, are referred to as heritage 

assets. Heritage assets are the valued components of the historic environment. A heritage 

asset can be a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape positively identified as 

having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions. They include 

designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority during the 

process of decision-making or through the plan-making process. Heritage asset holds 

meaning for society over and above its functional utility. It is this heritage significance that 

justifies a degree of protection in planning decisions. 

2.0.21 The council will be undertaking a programme of conservation area appraisals and 

management plans for specific conservation areas. These documents will provide 

fine-grained guidance on what forms of development are likely to be acceptable in different 

conservation areas, including what energy efficiency and renewable energy measures will 

be most suitable for different properties. 

2.0.22 The Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan(AAP) identifies heritage assets in the south 

of Islington and provides specific policies for that area's unique heritage. 

Policy DM 4 

Heritage 

A. The architectural heritage of Islington is one of the borough's key assets and the council 

will continue to ensure its protection and improvement. The sections below set out how each 

element of the historic environment will be conserved and enhanced through a set of stated 

principles for managing development and council actions. Only development which makes a 

positive contribution to Islington's heritage and supports these principles will be permitted. 

B. Conservation Areas: 

i) Developments are required to ensure the preservation or enhancement of the special 

character or appearance of Islington’s conservation areas and their settings; 

ii) There is a presumption in favour of the preservation of buildings and structures, both 

listed and unlisted, which make a positive contribution to the special character or appearance 

of conservation areas; 

iii) Spaces, street patterns, views, vistas, uses, trees and landscapes which contribute to 

the special character or appearance of a conservation area are required to be safeguarded; 

iv) The council will undertake a programme of conservation area appraisals and management 

plans and enhancement schemes to manage change. These documents will be Supplementary 

Planning Documents to guide development in those areas; 

v) Where up to date conservation area appraisals are not available, developers are required 

to submit character statements to demonstrate the impact of the development upon the 

character and appearance of the conservation area. 


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C. Listed buildings: 

i) There is a presumption in favour of the preservation of listed buildings and structures and 

their setting(s); 

ii) Alterations, extensions or change of use to listed buildings, or development in their vicinity, 

must not have an adverse impact on the special architectural or historic interest of such 

buildings or their settings, and 

iii) The council will take necessary measures to ensure that neglected listed buildings are 

appropriately repaired and re-used. 

D. Registered historic parks and gardens, London squares and other heritage landscapes: 

i) Developments must ensure the preservation or enhancement of historic parks and gardens 

/ London squares, and their settings; 

ii) The council will and development must safeguard features which form an integral part of 

the special character or appearance of the park, garden or square; 

iii) Developments must not detract from the enjoyment, layout, design, character, appearance 

or setting of the park, garden or square, key views out from the landscape, or prejudice its 

future restoration; and 

iv) The council will undertake, to prepare conservation statements or management plans 

and the implementation of appropriate enhancement schemes for these spaces, or support 

relevant organisations to do so. 

E. Locally listed buildings: 

i) The council will continue to identify and compile a list of locally important buildings and 

structures which make a positive contribution to local distinctiveness, and ensure their 

protection, retention and re-use. These buildings need to be identified by developers early in 

their development design process and their retention should be incorporated into the proposed 

development. Clear justification must be provided as to why a locally listed building cannot 

be retained. 

F. Archaeology: 

i) The council will ensure the preservation of locally and nationally important archaeological 

remains and their settings within the borough, whether these are designated as 'Scheduled 

Ancient Monuments' or not. Developments must not adversely affect important archaeological 

remains or their settings; 

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ii) Archaeological Priority Areas are identified on the Proposals Map and all planning 

applications likely to affect important archaeological remains must be accompanied by an 

appropriate archaeological assessment. Archaeological assessment may be required for other 

development proposals where it is considered important archaeological remains may be 

present, and 

iii) There is a presumption in favour of physical preservation in situ of important archaeological 

remains. Where this cannot be achieved, measures must be taken to mitigate the impact of 

proposals through archaeological fieldwork to investigate and record remains in advance of 

works, and subsequent analysis, publication and dissemination of the findings. 

G. For heritage assets not specifically addressed above, the council will identify them in 

plan and decision-making, and in Supplementary Planning Documents. When determining 

whether something is a heritage asset the council will assess its significance based on its 

aesthetic, communal, historic and evidential value. This heritage value will be used to decide 

the most efficient and effective way of managing the heritage asset to sustain its overall value 

to society. 

Protected Views 

2.0.23 There are a number of views both within, and across, Islington which are currently protected 

from development obscuring them. The views across Islington towards St. Paul's Cathedral 

are managed by the Mayor of London and all development has to comply with the relevant 

London Plan policies and the Mayor's London Views Management Framework. 

Policy DM 5 

Protected View 

A. The Mayor of London's strategic views will be protected and enhanced and the council will 

implement the London Views Management Framework for the strategic views that cross 

Islington. These views will be shown on the proposals map. 

B . Within Islington there are local views of St. Paul's Cathedral and of St. Pancras Chambers 

and Station that the council will protect and enhance. These views will be shown on the 

proposals map. The local views protected are: 

LV1 View from Farringdon Lane/ Farringdon Road / Clerkenwell Road to St. Paul's Cathedral 

LV2 View from St. John Street to St. Paul's Cathedral 

LV3 View from the Angel to St. Paul's Cathedral 

LV4 View from Archway Road to St. Paul's Cathedral 

LV5 View from Archway Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral 


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LV6 View from Amwell Street to St. Paul's Cathedral 

LV7 View from Dartmouth Park Hill to St. Paul's Cathedral 

LV8 View from Pentonville Road to St. Pancras Chambers and Station 

C. The council will produce management plans for all local views in a Supplementary Planing 

Document. Further policy and guidance for the management and protection of LV1 is provided 

in the Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan 

D. Redevelopment of buildings which currently adversely impact on the local or strategic view 

are required to improve the view and not infringe on any part of the defined view. 

Details of the location and height of the local views are given in Appendix 1. 

2.0.24 The local views are of no lesser quality than the Mayor's strategic views and the council 

will give equal protection to both types of views. The protection of the views of St. Paul’s 

has implications for the control of building heights within the City of London, in front of and 

behind the view to the Cathedral, and also in the London Borough of Southwark, protecting 

the background. The co-operation of these two authorities will therefore be necessary. 

2.0.25 Within the defined local views the council will seek to protect the line of sight view from 

ground level at the viewpoint (or viewpoints), to a line drawn horizontally through the base 

of the drum of the cathedral (52.1 AOD). The historic and important view of St. Pancras 

along Pentonville Road will also be protected (LV8), and schemes which detract from this 

view will be refused permission. 

Landmarks 

2.0.26 Islington benefits from having many fine buildings, some of which are local landmarks 

providing a focus of interesting views and skylines. These buildings are key elements 

within Islington's townscape and help create its local distinctiveness. A number of these 

landmarks are listed below, although this is not necessarily a comprehensive list and more 

could be added in the future. 

Policy DM 6 

Landmarks 

A. The Council will protect views of well known local landmarks and will exercise stringent 

controls over the height, location and design of any building which blocks or detracts from 

important or potentially important views. These landmarks will be shown on the proposals 

map. 

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B. The Council will produce management plans for the protection and enhancement of views 

of the local landmarks in Supplementary Planning Documents. These will identify the key 

public views of the landmark and provide guidance on managing development in the vicinity 

and advice on managing the public realm to protect and enhance these views. 

C. The landmarks protected are: 

Ref: 

LL1 

LL2 

LL3 

LL4 

LL5 

LL6 

LL7 

LL8 

LL9 

LL10 

LL11 

LL12 

LL13 

LL14 

LL15 

LL16 

LL17 

Note: 

Landmark 

St. Joseph’s RC Church, Highgate Hill 

St. Mary’s CE Church Tower and Spire, Ashley Road 

Boston Arms Dome, Junction Road/ Dartmouth Park Hill 

Camden Road New Church Tower and Spire, Camden Road 

Caledonian Market Tower, Market Road 

Union Chapel Tower and Spire, Compton Terrace 

St. Mary’s Church Tower and Spire, Upper Street 

St. John’s RC Church, Duncan Terrace 

Diespeker Chimney, 38 Graham Street 

Angel Corner House Dome, 1 Islington High Street 

The Cinema Tower, 7 Islington High Street 

Engine and Pump House, New River Head 

St. James’ Church Tower and Spire, Clerkenwell Close 

St. Luke’s Obelisk Spire, Old Street 

Leysian Mission Dome, City Road 

Lowndes House, 1 City Road 

Triton Court, Finsbury Square 

St. Pancras Station and Hotel (Chambers), in Camden, is also an 

important local landmark and views of it from Islington will be protected 

(Local view 8) 

New landmarks and local views 


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2.0.27 If there is strong local support for the designation of a new landmark or local view that 

contributes to local distinctiveness and has good public views the council may formally 

designate it and produce a management plan for it. This will be done through the production 

of a Supplementary Planning Document with public consultation. 

Advertisements 

Policy DM 7 


A. Advertisements are required to be of the highest possible standards and contribute to a 

safe and attractive environment. 

B. Advertisements (including hoardings, illumination of hoardings, illuminated fascia signs, 

free-standing display panels, and estate agent boards) which require consent must not cause 

a public safety hazard, or contribute to clutter or a loss of amenity. Schemes submitted for 

approval should meet all of the following criteria: 

i) be of a high quality and sensitive to its visual appearance on the building on which it is 

to be sited and the surrounding street scene, especially in the case of listed buildings and 

conservation areas; 

ii) 

iii) 

iv) 

and 

not contribute to an unsightly proliferation or clutter of signage in the vicinity; 

not cause a hazard to pedestrians or road users; 

not cause visual intrusion by virtue of light pollution into adjoining residential properties, 

v) be appropriate and relevant to a business or premises. 

C. In conservation areas, the council will refuse planning permission for new advertising 

hoardings and boards, and will seek the removal of any erected without consent. 

2.0.28 Shop front signage is addressed in more detail in Policy DM 39. 

Telecommunications 

2.0.29 Good telecommunications infrastructure is an essential part in maintaining and developing 

a modern community. However, poorly designed and sited equipment can have a 

detrimental impact on the character and appearance of a building and the wider area. The 

following policy provides clear assessment criteria and guidance to applicants about where 

telecommunications equipment will be considered acceptable. 

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Policy DM 8 


A. Telecommunications equipment, including masts and satellite dishes, will only be permitted 

where: 

i) they are sited and designed to minimise their visual impact; 

ii) they do not have a detrimental effect upon the character or appearance of the building or 

area; 

iii) innovative design and technological solutions have been explored to minimise visual 

impact, and 

iv) 

there is no reasonable possibility of sharing facilities. 

B. Telecommunications equipment is considered inappropriate on listed buildings and within 

conservation areas. 

C. Mobile phone masts will not be permitted in close proximity to school and pre-school 

buildings or grounds. 

2.0.30 In general it is not acceptable to locate satellite dishes and other telecommunications 

equipment on the front of buildings and other locations where they are visible from the 

public realm. Satellite dishes on residential properties should be no more than 60cm in 

diameter to avoid being visually dominant. Close proximity to school and pre-school 

buildings or grounds is considered to be within 300m. 

Micro-generation 

2.0.31 Micro-generation is becoming an increasingly important and popular way for individual 

households to reduce their CO 2 

emissions and energy bills. Micro-generation technologies 

can be split into two main categories: technologies which generate electricity or heat from 

a renewable energy resource (such as wind or solar energy) and the technologies that 

can enhance the efficiency of energy generation and can be generated close to the 

consumer. The Energy Act 2004 defines ‘micro-generation’ as being the generation of 

electricity or the production of heat in any plant which relies wholly or mainly on a source 

of energy or a technology listed below, and the capacity of which is less than 45 kilowatts 

(kW) of heat or 50kW of electricity. This generally includes: biomass, biofuels, fuel cells, 

photovoltaics, water, wind, solar power, geothermal sources, combined heat and power 

sources and air source heat pumps. However, there are some types of technology that 

are not very effective or appropriate in Islington given its dense urban setting. 


21


2.0.32 The council encourages everyone to minimise their use of fossil fuel and reduce their 

energy use (see chapter 3 for policies covering the requirements for CO 2 

and use of 

renewable energy in developments). However, some micro-generation equipment can be 

visually intrusive and damage the character of a building and area. While there may be 

occasions when climate change objectives conflict with conservation of heritage assets, 

many opportunities exist for enhancing energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and 

improved adaptation to climate change in historic buildings without negatively impacting 

on their heritage value. 

Policy DM 9 


A. Installation of micro-generation equipment is required to: 

i) be designed sensitively to fit with the appearance of the existing building; and 

ii) avoid having a significant detrimental impact on the character or appearance of buildings 

and their surroundings, or conservation area or other heritage asset, and 

iii) 

not harm the historic fabric of listed building and the work be reversible. 

22 


3 Managing Environmental Resources 


23



3.0.1 The Core Strategy promotes environmentally sustainable design, including through zero 

carbon development, water efficiency, ecological enhancement, sustainable drainage, 

sustainable materials and the sustainable operation of developments. This section provides 

further details to supplement and implement the over-arching Core Strategy policy. 

3.0.2 The Council's Sustainable Design SPD sets-out further detail regarding the operation of 

the policies in this section. 

3.0.3 The council will review the requirements of the policies in this section and shall, where 

appropriate, up-date the requirements within a revised Sustainable Design SPD or other 

SPD. 



Policy 10 Sustainable Design, Policy 15 Open Space and Green Infrastructure 

Policy DM 10 

Sustainable Design and Construction Statements 

A. Development proposals are required to integrate best practice sustainable design 

standards, during design, construction and operation of the development. 

B. Developers (excluding applications for those applications considered to have no significant 

sustainability implications - see note 1 ) are required to submit a Sustainable Design and 

Construction Statement. The Statement should clearly set out how the application complies 

with relevant local, regional and national sustainable design and construction policies and 

guidance. The Statement shall include, where relevant, an Energy Statement demonstrating 

how the application complies with Core Strategy CO 2 

reduction targets , and a BREEAM / 

Code for Sustainable Homes pre-assessment. 

C. Applications for those types of development excluded from Part B of this policy shall 

include details of sustainable design and construction considerations to a level of detail 

appropriate to the development. 

D. Applications for major developments are required to submit a Green Performance Plan 

detailing measurable outputs for the occupied building, particularly for energy consumption, 

CO 2 

emissions and water use, and should set out arrangements for monitoring the progress 

of the plan over the first years of occupancy, as well as arrangements for enforcement in the 

event that agreed objectives are not met. 

24 



E. Developers are required to support monitoring of the implementation of the Sustainable 

Design and Construction Statement, Green Performance Plan and/or other submitted details 

of sustainable design and construction considerations, by allowing council officers access to 

the development, submitting information to the council when requested, and through a financial 

contribution towards the council's monitoring costs. 

3.0.4 Note 1 : Policy DM10 B does not apply to those householder applications, minor changes 

of use, extensions of less than 100m 2 and minor works, where there will be no new units, 

no intensification and no significant sustainable design and construction impacts. 

3.0.5 The Sustainable Design and Construction Statement may be included within the Design 

and Access Statement, provided all necessary information is included and clearly stated, 

or it may be submitted as a separate document. 

3.0.6 Minimum information requirements for the Statement, including which documents within 

the Statement are relevant to specific application types, will be set out within the Sustainable 

Design Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and adopted within the council’s local 

validation requirements. Information supplied should be proportional to the scale of 

proposed development and allow the council to fully assess the proposals against relevant 

planning policies. 

3.0.7 Surveys of recently completed buildings reveal substantial gaps between client and design 

expectations and delivered performance, especially energy performance. To close this 

gap Policy DM10 requires that all major developments should provide a ‘Green Performance 

Plan’ developed in consultation with the council. Based on the model provided by the 

Green Travel Plan, the Green Performance Plan should specify measurable outputs for 

the occupied building, particularly for energy consumption, CO 2 

emissions and water use, 

and should set out arrangements for monitoring the progress of the plan over the first 

years of occupancy (e.g. using annual meter readings or Display Energy Certificates), as 

well as the arrangements for enforcement in the event that agreed objectives are not met. 

Further guidance on Green Performance Plans is provided in the Sustainable Design SPD. 

3.0.8 Monitoring costs will be based on officer time required to undertake the monitoring. Further 

details in relation to monitoring will be set out in the Sustainable Design SPD. 

Policy DM 11 

Sustainable materials, waste minimisation and construction impacts 

A. Applications for major developments are required to include a Green Procurement Plan 

detailing how materials have been selected to minimise environmental impacts over their 

lifecycle. Developments that involve significant use of concrete are required to submit an 

assessment of the feasibility of using low-impact forms of concrete, as part of the Green 

Procurement Plan. 


25


B. Major developments are required to score a minimum number of BREEAM / Code for 

Sustainable Homes credits on materials and waste: 

i) Schemes assessed under BREEAM should achieve 2 out of 4 credits on Mat 1 (Materials 

Specification) and 1 out of 3 credits on Mat 5 (Responsible Sourcing) and 2 out of 4 credits 

(or 1 out of 4 credits in the case of major fit out schemes) on BREEAM Wst 1 (Waste). 

ii) Schemes assessed under the Code for Sustainable Homes should achieve 8 out of 15 

credits on Mat 1, and 3 out of 6 credits on Mat 2 (Responsible Sourcing of Materials – Basic 

Building Elements) and 1 out of 3 credits on Mat 3 (Responsible Sourcing of Materials – 

Finishing Elements) and 2 out of 2 credits on Code for Sustainable Homes Was 2 (Waste). 

iii) As a minimum, 10% of the total value of materials used should derive from recycled and 

reused content in the products and materials selected. 

C. Applications for minor developments (excluding those considered to have no significant 

sustainability implications - see note 1 ) are required to include details of how materials have 

been selected to minimise environmental impacts over the lifecycle of the building and how 

construction waste has been minimised. 

D. All developments are required to comply with Islington's Code of Practice for Construction 

Sites. 

3.0.9 Note 1 : Policy DM11 C does not apply to those householder applications, minor changes 

of use, extensions or less than 100m 2 and minor works, where there will be no new units, 

no intensification and no significant construction works. 

3.0.10 The principles of this policy have already been set out in CS Policy 10F which requires all 

development to minimise the environmental impact of materials, for example through use 

of sustainably-sourced, low impact and recycled materials, and to take all possible 

measures to minimise the impact of construction on the environment, including by 

minimising construction waste. 

3.0.11 The policy aims to ensure developments address the environmental impacts of material 

use. In order to avoid duplication the policy adopts the approach used by BREEAM and 

the Code for Sustainable Homes, requiring a certain number of credits under relevant 

parts to ensure a good practice approach. Low-impact forms of concrete such as those 

which incorporate slag cement or recycled aggregates are also promoted to reduce the 

significant environmental impact associated with this material. Minimum information 

requirements for the Green Procurement Plan will be set out within the Sustainable Design 

SPD. 

26 



Policy DM 12 

Carbon Dioxide reduction targets 

A. Developments are required to achieve best practice energy efficiency standards, in terms 

of design and specification. 

B. Minor new build residential developments of one unit or more are required to achieve an 

on-site reduction in regulated CO 2 

emissions of at least 25% in comparison with regulated 

emissions from a building which complies with Building Regulations Part L 2010 (equivalent 

to Code for Sustainable Homes level 4), unless it can be demonstrated that such provision is 

not feasible. From 2013 this target will be a 47% on-site reduction in regulated CO 2 

emissions 

in comparison with regulated emissions from a building which complies with Building 

Regulations Part L 2010, unless it can be demonstrated that such provision is not feasible. 

C. Minor non-residential developments (excluding those considered to have no significant 

sustainability implications - see note 1 ) are required to achieve an on-site reduction in regulated 

CO 2 

emissions of at least 16% in comparison with regulated emissions from a building which 

complies with Building Regulations Part L 2010, unless it can be demonstrated that such 

provision is not feasible. This requirement will be reviewed and revised in relation to the 

national zero-carbon trajectory. 

D. All remaining emissions from minor residential developments and all remaining regulated 

emissions from non-residential developments, not dealt with by on-site measures, (excluding 

those application types to which the above policies do not apply and conversions of existing 

buildings to residential) will be off-set. Developments will be required to pay the full cost of 

CO 2 

off-setting, unless it can be demonstrated that this is not feasible, in which case the 

maximum feasible payment for off-setting will be required. 

E. Minor conversions of existing buildings into residential flats and changes of use are required 

to deliver a significant improvement to energy efficiency, by incorporating the following energy 

efficiency measures: 

(i) 

where no significant works to the building fabric are proposed: 

- loft insulation (where lofts exist and 250mm of insulation is not currently present) 

- cavity wall insulation (where cavities exist and are not already filled) 

- heating controls upgrade (to provide a programmable timer, room thermostat and 

thermostatic radiator valves, where these are not already installed) 

- double or secondary glazing 

- provision of A-rated boilers (where existing boilers are D-rated, or lower, and where new 

and/or additional boilers are required) 


27


- other minor measures, such as draft proofing and energy efficient lighting 

(ii) where the scheme involves substantial works to the existing building, such as the external 

fabric: 

- all of the above measures, and 

- solid wall insulation (where no cavities exist) 

F. Proposals not covered by the above policies, including householder applications and 

other minor extensions of less than 100m 2 , will be encouraged to apply cost-effective energy 

efficiency measures to the existing property, where practical, in addition to requirements 

applicable to the extension itself. 

3.0.12 Note 1 : Policy DM 12 C does not apply to those minor changes of use, extensions of less 

than 100m 2 and minor works, where there will be no new units, no intensification and no 

significant construction works or changes to the building fabric. 

3.0.13 The cumulative impact of minor schemes on climate change is likely to be significant. This 

policy will ensure minor schemes maximise levels of energy efficiency and achieve the 

highest viable levels of CO 2 

reduction. 

3.0.14 The design of proposals is required to take account of a range of factors, including building 

shape, orientation, insulation, glazing, air-tightness, ventilation, heating and lighting. Best 

practice standards to be achieved will be set out in the Sustainable Design SPD and any 

amendment to and / or replacement of this document, and in any additional guidance 

issued. 

3.0.15 Parts B and C of the policy establish standards considered to be viable in minor schemes, 

following detailed feasibility testing. In cases where compliance with CO 2 

emissions targets 

is argued not to be feasible, this will be assessed based upon a range of factors, including 

technical considerations and financial viability. All remaining emissions are required to 

be off set: this includes the remaining regulated CO 2 

emissions not eliminated through 

on-site measures, all unregulated emissions for minor residential schemes and unregulated 

emissions for minor non-residential schemes. The off-setting of regulated emissions only 

for non-residential schemes is due to the energy usage of many non-residential uses and 

the viability of off-setting, based on the policy evidence base. 

3.0.16 Conversions of properties to residential flats and some changes of use result in an 

increased carbon footprint due to increased occupancy. Part E of this policy will minimise 

the impact of conversions in terms of CO 2 

and energy use, without a significant impact on 

development viability. 

3.0.17 Extensions to properties result in an increased carbon footprint, due to the increased 

surface area of the property, increased heating and lighting requirements, and the ability 

of the property to accommodate a greater number of occupants. Part F of this policy seeks 

to minimise the impact of extensions and to achieve as close to zero carbon as possible, 

28 



without imposing undue cost burdens on applicants. In addition to high sustainable building 

standards for the extension, applying measures to the existing building is a cost-effective 

means to reduce carbon emissions. 

3.0.18 The council will recommend energy efficiency measures for extensions, which can be 

applied to existing properties to mitigate the impact of extensions, within the Sustainable 

Design SPD. These measures will have a pay-back period of no more than 5 years and 

will cost no more than 5% of the build costs of the proposed extension. 

Policy DM 13 

Decentralised Energy 

A. All major developments are required to be designed to be able to connect to a Decentralised 

Energy Network (DEN). Minor developments should be designed to be able to connect wherever 

reasonably possible. 

B. Major developments located within 500 metres of an existing DEN, and minor 

developments located within 100 metres, will be required to connect to that network, including 

provision of the means to connect to that network and a reasonable financial contribution to 

the connection charge, unless a feasibility assessment demonstrates that connection is not 


C. Major developments located within 500 metres of a safeguarded future DEN, which is 

considered by the council likely to be operational within 3 years of a grant of planning 

permission, will be required to provide a means to connect to that network and developers 

shall provide a reasonable financial contribution for the future cost of connection and a 

commitment to connect via a legal agreement or contract, unless a feasibility assessment 

demonstrates that connection is not reasonably possible. 

D. Where connection to an existing or future DEN is not possible, as per the criteria above 

and within the supporting text, major developments should develop and/or connect to a Shared 

Heating Network (SHN) linking neighbouring developments and/or existing buildings, and/or 

a Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP), unless it can be demonstrated that this is not 


E. Where developments connect to a DEN or SHN, the network shall be used as the main 

energy source for the lifetime of the development. 

F. Where connection to an existing or future DEN is deemed possible under the above policy, 

major developments are required to detail a preferred energy strategy and an alternative 

energy strategy within their Energy Statements. The preferred energy strategy shall be based 

on connection to a Decentralised Energy Network, and detail at least a 50% reduction in CO 2 

, 

compared with total emissions from a building that complies with 2006 Building Regulations 

Part L. The alternative energy strategy shall detail at least a 40% reduction, and is based on 


29


no connection to a Decentralised Energy Network. The preferred energy strategy shall be 

enacted, unless it is not reasonably possible to connect to a Decentralised Energy Network, 

in which case the alternative energy strategy shall be enacted. 

3.0.19 Part A of the policy requires developments to have the ability to connect to a DEN, which 

means that developments have the ability to be connected to a network if/when such a 

network becomes available in the future, rather than necessarily connecting at the time 

of construction. Whether minor developments can reasonably be designed to be able to 

connect to a DEN will be assessed by the council, taking into account a range of factors, 

including size, location, use and design of the development. Specific design standards 

to enable connection and future connection will be set out in the Sustainable Design SPD. 

3.0.20 All developments within 500 metres of an existing or planned DEN, or minor developments 

within 100 metres of an existing network, are required to submit a feasibility assessment 

of connection to that network, to determine whether connection is reasonably possible. 

The council, or relevant Energy Service Company, will provide relevant information to 

inform the feasibility assessment, including an assessment of the approximate cost of 

connection. Where connection is not considered technically possible or is not considered 

possible for non-technical reasons, including financial viability, the alternative energy 

strategy is required to be enacted. Feasibility assessments should consider a range of 

factors, including: 

d. the size of the development, and the heat load and energy demands; 

e. the distance to network pipes; 

f. physical barriers e.g. roads and railways, and 

g. other developments in the vicinity that may also be required to connect to the network. 

3.0.21 Where connection to a network is deemed to be reasonably possible, the anticipated CO 2 

reductions to be achieved by connection to the network shall contribute to the total CO 2 

reduction target, which shall be at least 50%, compared with total emissions from a building 

that complies with 2006 Building Regulations Part L. The CO 2 

reductions anticipated from 

connection shall be assessed and agreed by the council. Other measures proposed to 

contribute to the relevant CO 2 

reduction target shall be complementary with network 

connection technologies and/or with SHN and/or CHP technologies, in order to achieve 

maximum reasonable carbon dioxide reductions. 

3.0.22 Where connection is not considered reasonably possible, due to technical or non-technical 

reasons, including financial viability, an alternative energy strategy is required to be enacted. 

This strategy should achieve at least a 40% reduction in CO 2 

emissions, compared with 

total emissions from a building that complies with 2006 Building Regulations Part L. 

30 



3.0.23 The Core Strategy evidence base includes an assessment of the financial viability of 

achieving a 40% reduction in CO 2 

emissions without connection as well as a 50% reduction 

in CO 2 

emissions with connection. This research found that both scenarios are likely to 

be financially viable; however, where it can be demonstrated that the cost of an energy 

strategy involving connection to a network to achieve a 50% reduction in CO 2 

emissions 

significantly exceeds the cost of achieving a 40% CO 2 

reduction without connection and 

that this presents issues with financial viability, this will be taken into account in assessing 

the feasibility of network connection. 

3.0.24 Where connection is feasible to an existing or future DEN, developers are required to 

commit to connection via a legal agreement; this will include provision for a financial 

payment to the council to enable connection. Within the legal agreement a cut-off point 

will be defined, which will be the latest point at which a decision can be made in relation 

to network connection, and which shall be specified in the Sustainable Design SPD. If at 

this time it is not possible to agree connection to a network, due to the network being 

incomplete, the alternative energy strategy will be enacted. 

3.0.25 Where connection to an existing or planned decentralised energy network is not possible, 

all major developments should fully explore any opportunities to support the establishment 

of new decentralised energy networks through developing SHN with neighbouring existing 

buildings or new developments and take action to deliver these wherever feasible. Such 

shared networks are likely to be more efficient and may enable use of low or zero carbon 

technologies, such as CHP. 

3.0.26 Whether development of or connection to a SHN and/or CHP is reasonably possible will 

be assessed by the council, based on a range of factors, including: 

1. the size and nature of the heat load within the development and neighbouring 

communally heated sites; 

2. the distance between the sites; 

3. any physical barriers e.g. roads and railways; 

4. the practicality of connection, including willingness of existing building owners, timing 

of schemes and any other legal or management issues, and 

5. the carbon reduction likely from such a connection, including the feasibility of use of 

low or zero carbon technologies, such as CHP. 

3.0.27 Where a SHN and/or CHP connection is created any CO 2 

reductions achieved by the 

development site, or by existing buildings which are connected to the network as a result 

of the development, shall contribute to the achievement of the development's minimum 

40% total CO 2 

reduction target, in comparison to a building which meets Part L Building 

Regulations 2006. 


31


3.0.28 All financial sums shall be paid to the council and index-linked. Reasonable legal fees 

will also be payable. 

Policy DM 14 

Sustainable Design Standards 

A. New-build residential developments are required to achieve the following standards under 

the Code for Sustainable Homes, or equivalent: 

(i) up to 2012 - Level 4 

(ii) 2013 to 2015 - Level 5 

(iii) 2016 onwards - Level 6 

B. Major residential developments consisting of the refurbishment of existing buildings, 

including the conversion of existing buildings to form flats, are required to achieve EcoHomes 

Excellent, or equivalent. 

C. Major non-residential developments are required to achieve the following standards under 

the relevant BREEAM or equivalent scheme: 

(i) 

(ii) 

up to 2015 - Excellent 

2016 onwards - Outstanding 

3.0.29 The Code for Sustainable Homes (CsH) is the national standard for the sustainable design 

and construction of new homes. The Building Research Establishment Environmental 

Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) tools provide a nationally-recognised sustainable 

design standard for all other types of development, including refurbished homes which is 

covered by EcoHomes. These standards provide a widely recognised and well understood 

framework for the promotion of sustainable design, incorporating categories such as 

energy, CO2, water, materials, drainage, waste, pollution, health and well-being, 

management and ecology. 

3.0.30 The LDF evidence base demonstrates that CsH level 4 for all major and minor new build 

residential schemes and BREEAM Excellent for major non-residential schemes is currently 

achievable in the borough; in fact suggesting that energy standards above this level are 

already achievable for major schemes. It is therefore considered that target levels of these 

standards can be improved slightly ahead of the government's zero-carbon trajectory, as 

set out in the above policy. By 2016, the requirement of this policy for CSH will converge 

with those of the zero-carbon trajectory. 

32 



Policy DM 15 

Water efficiency standards for non residential developments 

A. Applications for non-residential developments are required to include information to 

demonstration that water efficiency has been maximised. 

B. Non-residential developments (excluding those considered to have no significant 

sustainability implications - see note 1 ) are required to achieve 3 out of 3 credits for water 

efficiency in the relevant BREEAM scheme and/or use less than 1.5m 3 of water per person 

per year unless it is demonstrated that this is not reasonably possible. 

C. Where it is demonstrated that (i) is not reasonably possible, developments (subject to 

the above exclusions) are required to achieve at least 2 out of 3 credits for water in the relevant 

BREEAM scheme, limit water use as much as reasonably possible and/or use less than 4.4m 3 

of water per person per year. 

Should BREEAM be replaced or amended during the lifetime of the plan, the replacement 

requirements will be applied by the council. 

3.0.31 Note 1 : Policy DM15 B does not apply to those changes of use, extensions of less than 

100m 2 and minor works, where there will be no new units, no intensification and no 

significant water consumption impacts. 

3.0.32 The Environment Agency has defined Islington as an area of serious water stress due to 

a combination of consumption rates, population forecasts and water availability. Additional 

growth in housing and non-residential floorspace will put significant additional pressure 

on water resources. Islington lies in an area which already has fewer water resources 

available in a dry year than the total household and non-household demand. Policy DM 

15 aims to set stretching but achievable standards which will minimise water use from 

non-residential developments and contribute to reduced demand from new development 

in Islington. Standards for residential developments are set out within the Core Strategy. 

Policy DM 16 

Heating and cooling 

A. Developers are required to demonstrate how the proposed design has maximised 

incorporation of passive design measures to control heat gain and to deliver passive cooling, 

following the cooling hierarchy, below: 

i) Passive design to minimise unwanted heat gain and manage heat 

ii) 

Passive/natural cooling 


33


iii) Mixed-mode cooling, with local mechanical ventilation / cooling provided where required 

to supplement the above measures using (in order of preference) low energy mechanical 

cooling followed by air conditioning 

iv) Full-building mechanical ventilation / cooling systems using (in order of preference) low 

energy mechanical cooling followed by air conditioning 

B. Measures at the highest possible level of the above cooling hierarchy shall be utilised to 

the fullest extent possible before the next level of the hierarchy is utilised. Each successive 

level shall be utilised as fully as possible before the subsequent level is utilised. The use of 

technologies from lower levels of the hierarchy shall not be supported unless evidence is 

provided that clearly demonstrates that technologies from higher levels of the hierarchy cannot 

deliver sufficient heat control. 

C. Applications for major developments and all developments above 100m 2 in the CAZ are 

required to include details of temperature modelling under projected increased future 

temperatures, and to demonstrate that the proposed design has maximised passive design 

and passive cooling measures. 

3.0.33 The UK Climate Impacts Programme 2009 projections suggest that by the 2080’s the UK 

is likely to experience summer temperatures that are up to 4.2°C higher than they are 

today. In dense urban areas such as Islington, the Urban Heat Island Effect 

3.0.34 The Urban Heat Island Effect(UHIE) could intensify these increases leading to temperatures 

that are as much as 9°C higher than the outskirts of London. Ensuring buildings are 

designed and constructed to be comfortable in higher temperatures, without resorting to 

energy intensive air conditioning, is crucial. This will be particularly important in the densest 

parts of Islington within the Central Activity Zone (CAZ). 

3.0.35 The hierarchy within the policy requires developments to incorporate measures which will 

ensure adaptation to rising summer temperatures, while minimising energy intensive 

cooling. Modelling of larger developments and those in the CAZ under predicted future 

temperatures is required to ensure buildings are fully adapted to the changing climate. 

Detailed requirements for modelling will be set out in the Sustainable Design SPD. 

3.0.36 Passive design may include building orientation, shading, high levels of thermal mass, 

and energy efficient lighting and appliances. Passive / natural cooling may include 

maximising cross-ventilation, use of passive stack ventilation, and night-time purging. 

3.0.37 Information submitted in relation to this policy may be submitted within the Design and 

Access Statement, or may be submitted within a separate Sustainable Design and 

Construction document. 

34 



Policy DM 17 

Sustainable Drainage 

A. Applications for major developments are required to include details to demonstrate that 

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs) have been incorporated and meet the following design 

standards: 

i) Quantity: schemes should be designed to reduce flows to ‘greenfield rate’ of run-off (8 

litres/second/hectare for Islington), where feasible. The volume of run-off to be stored on site 

should be based on the nationally agreed return period value of a 1 in 100 years flood plus 

a 30% allowance for climate change for the worst storm duration. Where it is demonstrated 

that a greenfield run-off rate is not feasible, runoff rates should be minimised as far as possible. 

The maximum permitted runoff rate will be 50 litres/second/hectare. 

ii) Quality: the design should follow the SUDS ‘management train’, maximise source control, 

provide the relevant number of ‘treatment stages’ and identify how the ‘first flush’ will be dealt 

with. 

iii) Amenity and biodiversity: the design must maximise amenity and biodiversity benefits, 

while ensuring flow and volumes of run-off entering public open space are predictable and 

water at the surface is clean and safe. Schemes should maximise areas of landscaping and/or 

other permeable surfaces to support this. 

B. All minor developments are required to reduce existing run-off levels as far as possible, 

and as a minimum maintain existing run-off levels, including through the incorporation of 

SUDS. 

C. Developments may be required to make contributions to addressing surface water flood 

risk, particularly where they are located in areas considered at high risk of surface water 

flooding and in exceptional cases where the SUDS quantity standards cannot be achieved 

on site. 

3.0.38 Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) are an important tool in addressing Islington’s 

surface water flood risk, which is predicted to rise as climate change increases the 

frequency of heavy rainfall and as ongoing development and intensification of the borough 

increases the volume of waste and surface water draining to the combined sewer. 

3.0.39 SUDS manage runoff from development in an integrated way to reduce the quantity of 

water entering drains, especially at peak periods, to improve the quality of runoff and 

promote amenity and biodiversity benefits from using water in the urban environment. 

SUDS also reduce the need for expensive conventional drainage systems, and thus can 

provide cost savings. Policy DM17 sets out the quantity, quality and amenity/biodiversity 

standards that SUDS are expected to achieve in the borough. 


35


3.0.40 The policy aims to reduce runoff rates from all developments to limit flood risk, with a 

particular focus on major schemes where runoff rates should be restricted to a ‘greenfield 

rate’ of runoff. On sites where it can be demonstrated that this is not possible, a higher 

rate of runoff, as set out in the policy, may be agreed with the Council and regulators. It 

also sets out a required storage volume, which should be equivalent to the largest peak 

flow expected within a 1 in 100 year (plus 30% allowance for climate change) return period. 

3.0.41 Quality standards are based on a qualitative assessment of the SUDS ‘management train’, 

which sets out how runoff should be managed using a sequence of techniques that control 

and clean flow as it passes from one stage to the next. The SUDS management train 

involves prevention, source controls, site controls and regional controls. Source control is 

critical in an urban environment like Islington and should be incorporated on all schemes. 

Volumes that cannot be managed ‘at source’, flow slowly to storage or ‘site control’ features 

within the development. 

3.0.42 Amenity and biodiversity benefits, such as those listed below, should be maximised on all 

schemes: 

attractive, safe SUDS features which make use of clean water at the surface to 

enhance landscape design and create a sense of place 

provision of multi-functional spaces such as sport, recreational and wildlife areas 

creation of ecological habitats such as ponds, wetlands and other planted areas 

enhanced wellbeing and educational opportunities as the water cycle is made a part 

of people’s everyday lives 

water reuse opportunities, from naturally watered landscapes to rainwater recycling 

well designed SUDS details including rills, channels, canals, spouts, cascades and 

pools 

visually acceptable and safe inlets, outlets and control structures 

3.0.43 Minor schemes will be expected to show that they have utilised all available techniques 

to avoid increasing runoff and to reduce it as far as possible, this will include: 

maximising area of green roofs, particularly on new buildings; 

maximising areas of soft landscaping; 

ensuring all hard surfaces are permeable or drain into permeable features, and 

making use of other SUDS techniques as appropriate, for example swales and rain 

gardens. 

3.0.44 Treatment stages refers to improvements to water quality, by physical, chemical and / or 

biological means, to remove contaminants. First flush is the initial run-off from the site, 

following a rainfall event. First flush can carry pollutants, which require treatment. 

36 



Policy DM 18 

Landscaping and Biodiversity 

A. Developments are required to maximise the provision of green roofs and the greening 

of vertical surfaces as far as reasonably possible. New-build developments, and all major 

applications, are required to use all available roof space for green roofs, subject to other 

planning considerations. 

B. Green roofs are required to maximise benefits for biodiversity, sustainable drainage and 

cooling. Green roofs are required to have a substrate depth of 80-150mm, unless it can be 

demonstrated that this is not reasonably possible. The substrate depth should be varied within 

this range to maximise biodiversity benefits. 

C. Developments are required to contribute to and enhance the landscape, biodiversity 

value and growing conditions of the development site and surrounding area, including 

connectivity between habitats. All developments are required to maximise the provision of 

soft landscaping, including trees, shrubs and other vegetation, as far as reasonably possible 

and maximise biodiversity benefits, including through the incorporation of wildlife habitats that 

complement surrounding habitats and support the Council's Biodiversity Action Plan. The 

Landscape Plan (see policy DM2) is required to demonstrate the following: 

i) the response to any locally specific guidance, including open space and public realm 

strategies, masterplans and any other relevant guidance; 

ii) the ecological benefits of the landscape design and species used for planting, which are 

required to ensure that biodiversity is maximised in response to the site context (including 

connectivity between habitats) and in accordance with any surveys undertaken and the council's 

Biodiversity Action Plan; 

iii) the response to the potential impacts of climate change, including how the landscape 

design and planting minimises water use and responds to projected future increases in 

temperatures; 

iv) the provision of artificial habitat, such as bird and bat boxes; 

v) a consideration of the potential use of any open space for community food growing; 

vi) the relationship of landscaping with on-site play space, private outside space and public 

open space, where relevant; 

vii) the provision of large, shade providing tree species (including space for these trees to 

mature) and other landscape measures to reduce overheating of the development, subject to 

natural daylight considerations; 

viii) the incorporation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) within the landscape; 


37


ix) the incorporation of inclusive landscape design, in accordance with the council's Inclusive 

Landscape Design SPD, and 

x) the incorporation of management and maintenance considerations for the lifetime of the 

development. 

D. Developers are required to submit a management and maintenance plan, for the lifetime 

of the development. 

E. Trees, shrubs and other vegetation of landscape and/or environmental significance are 

required to be considered holistically as part of the landscaping and biodiversity approach to 

development. The following requirements shall be adhered to: 

i) Developments are required to minimise any impacts on trees, shrubs and other significant 

vegetation and their future cultivation to acceptable levels, including through the provision of 

sufficient space for the crowns and root systems of existing and proposed trees and their 

future growth. 

ii) Any loss of or damage to trees and shrubs and other significant vegetation, or adverse 

effects on their growing conditions, is required to be agreed with the council and compensated 

for by suitable re-provision. Developments within proximity of existing trees, shrubs and other 

significant vegetation are required to provide protection from any damage during development. 

iii) Development proposals likely to impact on mature trees and/or trees subject to a Tree 

Preservation Order (TPO) or within a conservation area are required to include an up-to-date 

Arboricultural Implications Assessment (AIA), which shall include a Tree Constraints Plan and 

Tree Survey. The AIA and associated documents shall include relevant trees within the vicinity 

of the development site. 

iv) The council will make Tree Preservation Orders to protect trees of value, ensuring they 

are not felled or pruned to the detriment of trees and environmental amenity. 

v) The council will refuse permission or consent for the removal of protected trees (TPO 

trees and trees within a conservation area) and for proposals that would have a detrimental 

impact on the health of protected trees on or within the vicinity of a site, including unnecessary 

pruning of crown and root systems. Where a protected tree is felled or adversely affected 

(which shall only be permitted, or given deemed consent in conservation areas, in exceptional 

circumstances) full compensation is required, in the form of suitable replacements and / or 

additional planting. Replacements and additional planting are required to re-provide equal 

canopy cover and / or equal environmental amenity value. Where on-site compensation 

cannot be provided, a financial contribution of the full cost of appropriate reprovision will be 

required. 

vi) Developments that would involve the removal of a local authority tree, or detrimental 

impacts upon a local authority tree, are required to clearly demonstrate that such works are 

necessary and that no alternative options are available. Such schemes will only be permitted 

where there are over-riding planning benefits. Where permitted, full compensation to the 

38 



council for the loss of or harm to trees will be required, in the form of suitable replacements 

and / or additional planting. Replacements and new planting are required to re-provide equal 

canopy cover and / or equal environmental amenity value. Where on-site compensation 

cannot be provided, a financial contribution of the full cost of appropriate reprovision will be 

required. 

vii) Major developments are required to provide a contribution to the council for the provision 

of additional trees within the public realm. 

F. Developments which may have an impact on biodiversity are required to carry out 

appropriate ecological surveys to determine the likely impact of their proposal on biodiversity, 

and submit these within any application. The recommendations arising from these surveys 

are required to be incorporated within the proposal. 

3.0.45 Further details on the design of landscape and biodiversity and in relation to ecological 

surveys will be provided in the Sustainable Design SPD. 

3.0.46 The level of green roof provision required will be assessed based on consideration of a 

range of other planning considerations, which may affect the ability of the development to 

provide green roof space. 

3.0.47 The greening of vertical surfaces refers to walls that have been intentionally covered, in 

whole or in part, in vegetation. This generally involves the use of climbing plants to create 

a living cladding system, which may use either climbing wall plants and/or container 

systems. Biodiversity benefits should be maximised and the approach should not be 

water-intensive. 

3.0.48 The council's Biodiversity Action Plan, 'Wild Islington' (BAP) (2010) is the borough’s 

contribution to achieving the targets identified in both the UK and London’s Biodiversity 

Action Plans. Islington’s BAP was put together by a biodiversity partnership, made up of 

local businesses, organisations and groups, and members of the community. It identifies 

habitats and species important to Islington and London as a whole. For each of the habitats 

and species, the five year plan identifies relevant threats, and proposes actions and targets 

for the borough. Amendments, alterations and/or replacements to the BAP will be relevant 

to the policies in this document. 

3.0.49 Measures taken to minimise water use in landscape design and planting should include 

rainwater harvesting and low water planting. 

3.0.50 Trees, shrubs and other significant vegetation is of particular value in the borough, due to 

the borough's dense urban nature, limited amount of green space and the impacts on air 

quality from traffic congestion. Trees also have a cooling effect, which is important due 

to projected future temperature increases, as a result of climate change. The council will 

protect existing trees and shrubs and increase their number. 


39


3.0.51 The impact of developments on trees will be assessed in accordance with the council's 

tree policy and strategy, A policy for trees in Islington (2009), and any replacements, 

alterations or additions to this document, and to all other statutory provisions and material 

considerations. Arboricultural Implications Assessments, Tree Constraints Plans and Tree 

Surveys are required to comply with BS5837:2005. This DM policy will also apply to any 

other policies, terminology and standards which may replace, amend or add to these 

requirements. 

3.0.52 Species of trees and shrubs planted, and the manner of their planting and subsequent 

maintenance is required to provide a high nature conservation value, long life and maximum 

impact. Local species should be planted, where appropriate. 

3.0.53 Developer contributions towards trees within the public realm will be dealt with by a legal 

agreement, unilateral undertaking or other relevant mechanism. The Planning Obligations 

(S106) SPD requires a contribution towards the public realm. This document, or any 

replacement addition or alteration, or any change to the national mechanism for developer 

contributions (such as the Community Infrastructure Levy) will apply to this DM policy. 

3.0.54 Developments are required to provide adequate and appropriate building foundations, 

which are a prerequisite for retaining trees and allowing for supplementary planting. The 

proposed foundation depths of new structures will therefore not be an acceptable reason 

for curtailing planting. 

3.0.55 Pruning of retained trees and shrubs on proposed development sites may be required, to 

facilitate the erection of scaffolding and protective hoardings. Where proposed pruning 

is satisfactory, this will be conditioned and agreed by specification prior to the 

commencement of any construction or site preparation works. 

3.0.56 Where TPO trees, or trees within a conservation area, are felled or pruned without the 

council's consent, or deemed consent conservation areas, enforcement action will be 

taken and suitable replacements will be required. 

3.0.57 With regards to part E of policy DM 18, all developments should comply with protected 

species legislation. In some circumstances a site survey will be required, the results of 

which will be collated and forwarded by the council to Greenspace Information for 

Greater London GiGL. The Sustainable Design SPD will provide further information 

relating to the circumstances in which surveys are required. Developments that impact 

on identified biodiversity habitats will be required to mitigate these as far as possible, and 

provide appropriate mitigation and compensation, where appropriate and 

reasonable,(including habitat improvement and creation targets) in line with the council's 

Biodiversity Action Plan; this may include a specified contribution to biodiversity 

improvements. 

Policy DM 19 

Private Open Space 

40 



A. Private open space, amenity space, gardens and grounds will be protected from 

development. Development that would result in a significant loss of open space, biodiversity, 

cooling effect and/or flood alleviation effect will be refused planning permission. 

B. Residential garden space and undeveloped curtilage is considered greenfield land for 

the purposes of assessing planning applications. 

3.0.58 Open space, amenity space, gardens and grounds, are important for physical and mental 

health, air quality, drainage and biodiversity. This is particularly the case in Islington, due 

to the density of development and the population. Such spaces shall be retained unless 

there are exceptional circumstances justifying their development. 


41

4 Transport 


42

4 Transport 

4 Transport 

4.0.1 The Core Strategy promotes sustainable transport choices in order to limit the impact of 

developments on the environment, to respond to congestion affecting roads and public 

transport, and to promote healthier lifestyles. The transport section of this document 

provides a more detailed policy framework to implement the over-arching aims of the Core 

Strategy. 



Policy 10 Sustainable Design, IMP 1 Delivery and Infrastructure 

Policy DM 20 

Movement hierarchy 

A. The design of developments, including building design and internal layout, site layout, 

public realm and the provision of transport infrastructure, is required to prioritise the transport 

needs of users according to the following movement hierarchy: 

i) pedestrians 

ii) 

cyclists 

iii) public transport 

iv) taxis, delivery and servicing needs 

v) private motorists and other road users 

B. Inclusive design for all users, including disabled people, shall be a key principle throughout 

the above movement hierarchy. 

4.0.2 The design of new development is required to provide good access for pedestrians and 

cyclists, and users of public transport. Providing for sustainable transport modes will help 

to meet wider objectives set out in the Core Strategy and the council's Local Implementation 

Plan (the Sustainable Transport Strategy). 

4.0.3 The needs of all users, including disabled people, are required to be a central consideration 

in the design of development in order to meet the council's policies and aims in relation 

to inclusive design. The Inclusive Landscape Design SPD provides further details. 


43

4 Transport 

4.0.4 Within category (v) of policy DM 20 (private motorists and other road users) the council 

will prioritise more environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles and other 

cleaner fuel vehicles. Scooters and motorcycles may also be more appropriate than other 

private motor vehicles given the lower space requirements. 

Policy DM 21 

Managing transport impacts 

A. Development proposals are required to meet the transport needs of the development and 

address its transport impacts in a sustainable manner and in accordance with best practice. 

Where a development is considered by the council likely to have a significant negative impact 

on the operation of walking and cycling infrastructure, public transport, the road network, 

and/or other transport infrastructure, and this impact cannot be satisfactorily mitigated, planning 

permission for the proposal will be refused. In order for developments to be considered 

acceptable, they are required to: 

i) provide equal access for all people, including inclusive access for disabled people; 

ii) maximise safe, convenient and inclusive accessibility to, from and within developments 

for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, in accordance with the council's movement 

hierarchy; 

iii) fully mitigate any pressure upon the capacity of existing transport infrastructure, including 

pavements and other walking routes, cycle routes, public transport and roads; 

iv) fully mitigate any adverse impacts on transport infrastructure, including for existing transport 

users not associated with the development; 

v) have no negative impacts from transport arrangements on the local and wider environment; 

vi) only provide vehicle parking for essential needs identified in Core Strategy Policy 10H and 

policy DM23 (Parking, Deliveries and Servicing); 

vii) have no negative impacts on the safe and efficient operation of transport infrastructure, 

and 

viii) address delivery, servicing and drop-off requirements in accordance with policy DM24. 

B. Development proposals are required to include the submission of either a Transport 

Assessment and Travel Plan, or a Transport Statement and Travel Plan Statement, in 

accordance with the thresholds outlined within the council's Sustainable Transport Planning 

Guidance note and any addition, alteration or replacement of this document. The submitted 

information is required to be sufficiently detailed and accurate to enable the council to fully 

assess the development proposal. 

44 


4 Transport 

4.0.5 All development introduces a level of change to the surrounding environment and new 

development will need to be well integrated with Islington's transport environment so that 

the borough can accommodate growth in a sustainable manner. Transport Assessments 

are required so that the transport impacts of development proposals are identified and 

addressed. 

4.0.6 The Sustainable Transport Planning Guidance Note (PGN) details when a Transport 

Assessment and Travel Plan is required, and when a Transport Statement and Travel 

Plan Statement may be acceptable as an alternative. The PGN also provides detailed 

requirements. Any addition, alteration or replacement of this document will also apply to 

this policy. 

4.0.7 Transport Assessments are required to assess the impact of proposals on transport 

infrastructure, including the capacity of roads, public transport and walking and cycling 

infrastructure, and detail action to manage this impact. They are required to present 

qualitative and quantitative information about the anticipated transport and related 

environmental impacts before, during and after implementation of the proposed 

development, including details of the accessibility of the site by all transport modes and 

all users, including disabled people, and the likely modal split of journeys to and from the 

site. 

4.0.8 Developers are required to demonstrate that the Transport Assessment and Transport 

Statement have informed the design of the proposed development and the Travel Plan or 

Travel Plan Statement. Development proposals shall meet the identified needs and 

address anticipated impacts of the development through the design of the scheme, effective 

management, including through a Travel Plan where appropriate, and through mitigating 

any impacts of the scheme, including through planning obligations where appropriate. 

4.0.9 Travel Plans are the key management tool for implementing any transport solutions 

highlighted by the Transport Assessment, and are one of the primary tools for mitigating 

negative transport impacts of development proposals. Travel Plans are required to detail 

the developer's response to the Transport Assessment and deliver sustainable transport 

objectives with a package of measures to promote sustainable transport, including 

measures to achieve a modal shift to the most sustainable forms of transport: walking and 

cycling. 

4.0.10 The Travel Plan is required to set out the on-going management arrangements for the 

Plan, which shall normally include the appointment of a Travel Plan coordinator and a 

steering group, management company or community trust. A monitoring schedule and 

outline of the approach to monitoring is required within the Travel Plan; a monitoring period 

of at least 5 years will apply. Enforcement actions are required to be agreed prior to any 

grant of planning permission, to plan for any unimplemented or failed measures. 

4.0.11 Design and Access Statements are required to refer to the Travel Plan/Transport Statement 

explaining what inclusive or specific transport options area available to meet the needs of 

all users, including disabled people. 


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4 Transport 

4.0.12 Transport infrastructure includes pavements, walking routes and other walking infrastructure 

and facilities, cycle routes and other cycle infrastructure and facilities, public transport, 

roads, waterways and infrastructure and facilities in relation to all other forms of transport. 

Policy DM 22 

Walking and cycling infrastructure 

A. All development proposals (excluding householder applications, minor extensions below 

100m 2 and minor changes of use where there is no intensification) are required to provide 

good public connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, and good permeability through the site 

where relevant. This shall include new and/or improved connections of the site to existing 

pedestrian and cycling infrastructure within the vicinity of the site and new and/or improved 

connections through and within the site, where relevant. Connections are required to be high 

quality and inclusive in accordance with best practice, including pedestrian and cycle routes 

segregated from traffic and each other, where appropriate. 

B. In addition, major development proposals are required to contribute to wider improvements 

to walking and cycling infrastructure, through planning obligations and other relevant 

mechanisms. 

4.0.13 The council will set out in the Local Implementation Plan 2011-2031 (the Sustainable 

Transport Strategy) a target mode share for cycling. It is anticipated that this will be a 6% 

mode share by 2026. The council wishes to promote walking and cycling due to 

environmental and health issues, including climate change, air quality and physical activity 

levels, and is also a response to a growing population whose travel needs cannot be fully 

accommodated by other modes of transport. Investment in walking and cycling 

infrastructure is a more cost-effective and sustainable means to increase transport capacity 

in the borough than other transport modes. A key way to increase borough walking and 

cycling levels is to make walking and cycling a more attractive transport option, by making 

it safer: investing in infrastructure will help to achieve this. 

4.0.14 Development sites shall be publicly accessible (open and permeable) where possible and 

appropriate, including through the provision of new or improved pedestrian and cycle 

routes within, through and in the vicinity of the site, and connections of the site to existing 

pedestrian and cycle routes. Public routes not within the council's control are required to 

have a management and maintenance plan. 

4.0.15 New and/or improved junctions, roads and other transport infrastructure provided as part 

of new developments are required to provide good, inclusive, facilities for pedestrians and 

cyclists and are required to assess pedestrian and cyclist requirements in detail, including 

through a walking and cycling safety audit and area action surveys as part of the Transport 

Assessment and Travel Plan, or the Transport Statement and Travel Plan Statement, as 

appropriate. 

46 


4 Transport 

4.0.16 Inclusive signage and way-finding is required to aid legibility and shall be provided through 

planning obligations and/or provided on site where appropriate. 

4.0.17 Major developments are required to contribute towards improvements to the borough’s 

pedestrian and cycling infrastructure through a financial contribution for off-site investment, 

including local and/or strategic improvements. This contribution forms part of the Transport 

and Public Realm contribution set out in the council’s Planning Obligations SPD. This 

SPD and any replacement or amendment defines the scope and quantity of this obligation. 

4.0.18 Transport Assessments submitted with applications shall be used to inform proposed new 

walking and cycling infrastructure and proposed improvements or investment in existing 

walking and cycling infrastructure. 

4.0.19 The borough cycle network is identified in Map 4.1. This network is the priority for any 

off-site investment in cycling infrastructure, where this lies within the vicinity of the site. 

This network consists of strategic, major and local routes. This hierarchy is not indicative 

of higher or lower priorities for investment, but is an indication that different levels of the 

hierarchy may be more suitable for a different range of investment measures. The council 

will also invest in roads that are unallocated as cycle routes, to ensure that all roads are 

cyclable and have good facilities for pedestrians. 

4.0.20 The map also identifies borough Principal Roads, where these are not allocated as cycle 

routes. The council may wish to invest in making these more suitable for walking and 

cycling; however, they do not form part of the allocated cycle network at present. In 

addition, the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) may also be suitable for 

investment and this will be considered on a site-by-site basis. 

4.0.21 Map 4.2 shows borough walking routes, which are a priority for off-site investment in 

walking infrastructure, in addition to pavements and footpaths in the vicinity of the site. 

4.0.22 In addition, the council’s Local Implementation Plan (the Sustainable Transport Strategy) 

identifies investment priorities for walking and cycling. 

4.0.23 All pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and facilities are required to be designed to best 

practice standards. Current best practice guidance includes TfL’s London Cycling Design 

Standards, the council's Inclusive Landscape SPD, the Department of Transport document 

Inclusive Mobility, and the forthcoming SPD on streetscape design; however, best practice 

should be defined at the time of submission of the planning application, based on up-to-date 

guidance from recognised organisations. 


47

4 Transport 

Map 4.1 Borough cycle network and principal roads 

48 


4 Transport 

Map 4.2 Borough walking routes 


49

4 Transport 

Policy DM 23 

Cycle parking and end-of-trip facilities 

A. Developments (excluding householder applications and those minor changes of use and 

minor extensions below 100m 2 , where there is no intensification) are required to provide 

secure, sheltered, integrated, conveniently located, adequately lit and accessible cycle parking 

in accordance with the minimum standards set out in Table 1, below. Cycle parking is required 

to be designed to best practice standards and to include an adequate element of cycle parking 

suitable for accessible bicycles and tricycles. Residential cycle parking is required to include 

provision for cycle parking for family use. 

B. Developments (excluding residential units, householder applications and those minor 

changes of use and minor extensions below 100m 2 , where there is no intensification) are 

required to provide end-of-trip facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in accordance with best 

practice. End-of-trip facilities are required to be provided at a level proportionate to the size 

of the development and the required level of cycle parking. 

C. Proposals for uses that are publicly accessible, including but not limited to A1, A2, A3 

and D1 Use Classes, are required to contribute financially to publicly-accessible cycle parking 

located in the public realm within the vicinity of the site. Such parking is intended to be used 

for visitors to the development, but shall be open to all members of the public to use. 

4.0.24 Table 1 Cycle Parking Standards 

Use 

Food and non-food 

retail 

Financial and 

professional services 

Restaurants and cafés 

Drinking 

establishments 

Hot food take-aways 

Offices 

Research and 

development, high tech 

Number of spaces 

1 per 200m 2 for employees plus 1 per 10 peak time customers 

and no less than 1 space per 125m 2 overall 

1 per 10 employees plus 1 per 10 peak time customers and no 

less than 1 space per 125m 2 overall 

1 per 10 staff plus 1 per 10 peak time customers and no less 

than 1 space per 100m 2 overall 





1 per 190m 2 for employees plus 1 per 10 peak time visitors 

1 per 290m 2 for employees plus 1 per 10 peak time visitors and 

no less than 1 space per 250m 2 overall 

50 


4 Transport 

Use 

Light industry 

General industry 

Storage and 

distribution 

Hotels 

Care homes 

Hospitals 

Housing 

Schools 

Universities / colleges 

Libraries 

Health facilities / clinics 

Cinemas 

Leisure facilities 

Number of spaces 

1 per 290m 2 

1 per 270m 2 

1 per 500m 2 

1 per 10 employees (based on 1 employee per 2 bedrooms) 

plus 1 per 20 peak time guests 

1 per 3 employees plus 1 per 10 visitors 

1 per 5 employees plus 1 per 10 visitors 

1 per person, based on bedroom size 

1 per 10 staff plus 1 per 10 students 

1 per 8 staff plus 1 per 8 peak time students 

1 per 10 staff plus 1 per 10 peak time visitors 

1 per 5 staff plus 1 per 10 visitors 

1 per 10 staff plus 1 per 25 seats 

1 per 10 staff plus 1 per 10 peak period visitors 

Floorspace refers to Gross Internal Area. Employee figures refer to Full Time Equivalent. 

The terms 'customers', 'visitors' and 'guests' are interchangeable. Proposals not individually 

covered by the above standards will be required to provide cycle parking in accordance 

with the most appropriate classification above. Staff parking is required to be located on 

site. An element of visitor parking may be appropriate in the public realm. Mixed-use 

developments shall adhere to the most stringent applicable requirements e.g. an application 

for flexible A1-A3 uses shall apply the highest cycle parking requirement within the A 

classes. 

Housing includes conventional housing, student housing and Houses in Multiple Occupation. 

Visitor parking needs will be assessed based on submitted information and with regard to 

operational factors such as the number of meeting rooms in offices, the number of covers 

for café and restaurant uses, and the number of rooms for hotels. Comparisons with 

existing uses will be made to inform assessments of expected visitor numbers. Developers 

are required to submit sufficient information to enable the council to assess the required 

level of cycle parking. Retail uses will be required to submit information on expected 

customer numbers. 


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4 Transport 

4.0.25 Cycling parking and end-of-trip facilities support Islington’s strategic target to achieve a 

6% modal share for cycling by 2026. In order to deliver the proposed modal share 

developments are required to provide a good level of cycle parking to allow for more 

journeys to be made by bicycle. Cycle parking will also support implementation of the 

council's car free policy. The car free policy will in turn support implementation of the cycle 

parking requirements, because there will be more space available on sites, which may 

under a different policy framework have been used for car parking. 

4.0.26 For publicly-accessible developments, cycle parking for the public may be provided either 

through on-site provision and/or through a financial contribution to allow the council to 

install off-site parking in the public realm. The appropriate provision of cycling parking shall 

be discussed on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the cycle parking standards, 

where the standards differentiate between parking for occupants and visitors. The amount 

of off-site parking required will be related to the need for publicly-accessible parking and 

to site characteristics, with a requirement for all parking to be conveniently located for the 

intended users. Publicly-accessible cycle parking will be credited towards the minimum 

visitor parking requirement for the purposes of Part A of this policy. 

4.0.27 On-site cycle parking is required in addition to any minimum floorspace requirements. For 

example, any area to be used for cycle parking must be in addition to minimum residential 

space standards (including storage) and requirements for employment floorspace. 

4.0.28 End-of-trip facilities are required to include at least inclusive changing facilities, showers, 

lockers and clothes drying facilities and are required to be sufficient to meet the peak 

needs of the development, based on the occupancy of the development and the amount 

of cycle parking required. 

4.0.29 Cycle parking for disabled users shall include parking that can accommodate mobility 

bicycles and tricycles. This is required at a level appropriate to the scale of development 

and the users of the development. Residential schemes are required to provide disabled 

user accessible cycle parking at least for those residential units suitable for disabled 

people. Cycle parking suitable for families may include parking that can accommodate 

trailers for children, and is required at least in relation to family-sized units i.e. residential 

units with three or more bedrooms. 

4.0.30 Developers should consider a more intensive approach to meeting cycle parking standards 

than single-storey parking. Two-tier cycle parking solutions are available and enable a 

more efficient use of land. In addition, there are a range of intelligent cycle storage 

solutions available and developers are required to demonstrate that all options have been 

investigated, where there are issues of compliance with the cycle parking requirements. 

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4 Transport 

Policy DM 24 

Vehicle parking, delivery and servicing for new developments 

A. Provision for delivery and servicing is required to be provided off-street at a level 

appropriate in scale to the use and size of the scheme, meeting delivery and servicing needs. 

Details shall be submitted to establish the delivery and servicing needs of developments. 

Delivery and servicing bays are required to be strictly controlled, clearly signed and only used 

for the specific agreed purpose. Where on-street servicing is proposed details must be 

submitted to demonstrate the need for on-street provision and to show that arrangements will 

be safe and will not cause a traffic obstruction or nuisance. 

B. No provision for vehicle parking or waiting will be allowed except that required for essential 

drop-off and wheelchair-accessible parking. Provision will only be permitted where a need 

has been identified and only the minimum necessary provision shall be permitted. Provision 

is required to be off-street and located to be accessible and convenient in relation to the 

development and to be accessible to disabled people. Where on-street drop-off and/or 

wheelchair accessible parking is proposed details must be submitted to demonstrate the need 

for on-street provision and to show that arrangements will be safe and will not cause a traffic 

obstruction or nuisance. 

C. Wheelchair-accessible car parking is required to be provided in accordance with best 

practice standards, as set out in the council's Planning Obligations (S106) SPD, Accessible 

Housing SPD, BS8300:2009 and any subsequent addition, revision or replacement to these 

documents and standards. Developments are also required to provide adequate provision 

for mobility scooter storage and charging. 

D. Where it is demonstrated that required wheelchair-accessible car parking cannot be 

provided on site, and where the council considers this acceptable, a financial contribution will 

be required towards accessible transport initiatives in accordance with the council’s Planning 

Obligations SPD and any subsequent addition, revision or replacement. 

E. The council will support the provision of car clubs, including the provision of inclusive car 

club parking bays where appropriate. Developments will be required to contribute towards 

the provision of car clubs in the vicinity of the development. 

F. Development proposals for, or including, new public car parks (and other motor vehicle 

public parking) will be refused. Development proposals for the redevelopment of existing car 

parks for a different use shall be subject to the car-free restriction within this policy and the 

Core Strategy. 

G. Applications for car parking within the curtilage of existing residential properties will be 

refused. 


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4 Transport 

4.0.31 Core Strategy Policy 10H establishes that developments will be car free, which means no 

car parking provision will be allowed on site and occupiers will have no ability to obtain 

car parking permits, except for required wheelchair accessible parking. However, delivery, 

servicing, drop-off / collection and wheelchair accessible parking may be required. Transport 

Assessments are required to identify the needs of the development. This policy does not 

affect the ability of disabled people to apply for parking permits. 

4.0.32 Full details of servicing, including delivery hours and frequency, and service bay location 

and operation (including swept path analysis) is required in relation servicing arrangements, 

where relevant. The council will, where appropriate, control aspects of servicing by 

condition. 

4.0.33 Where on-street wheelchair accessible parking is required and appropriate the developer 

shall identify, negotiate and pay for the conversion of suitable bays. 

4.0.34 Accessible transport initiatives may include the provision of wheelchair accessible car 

parking, and a range of inclusive alternatives. 

4.0.35 Mobility scooters and charging points shall be located in an appropriate place within the 

development, such as a ground floor space, next to the lifts. 

4.0.36 Car clubs provide an alternative to car ownership that helps to reduce traffic and parking 

congestion, reduce air quality and climate change impacts from transport, allow more 

equitable and efficient use of public space and increases travel options for all social groups. 

Developer contributions are required to include a financial contribution towards car club 

infrastructure, such as car club parking bays, and other car club enabling measures, such 

as membership subsidy. 

4.0.37 The provision of off-street car club bays within developments as an alternative to on-street 

provision will only be accepted where it has been demonstrated by the developer, to the 

satisfaction of the council, that on-street parking is not appropriate or possible. Should 

the council accept the need for off-street car-club parking bays instead of on-street bays 

these must be publicly accessible at all times (with no need for a key or other security 

measures) and located above ground in order to allow for convenient access and to allow 

a communication signal for on-board telematics. 

4.0.38 The redevelopment of existing car parks, for alternative uses, will be subject to the car 

free policy. The number of car parking spaces existing on-site will not be accepted as a 

justification to provide car parking in contravention to the car-free policy, or to provide 

delivery, servicing, drop-off and wheelchair accessible parking above requirements identified 

in the submitted Transport Assessment. 

4.0.39 Car parking within the curtilage of residential properties has negative impacts on 

biodiversity, flood risk, visual amenity, healthy lifestyles, air quality, traffic congestion and 

highways safety. Applications will be normally be refused; however, the needs of disabled 

people will be taken into account and exceptions made where appropriate. 

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4.0.40 Any financial payments shall be made to the council, index-linked and provide for 

reasonable legal fees. 


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5 Housing 


This chapter helps implement the following Core Strategy Objectives: securing a supply of 

housing which encourages mixed communities, where mixed communities include, (but are 

not limited to) different tenures, household sizes, and ages (including families, older people 

and disabled people), and the following policies: Policy 12 Meeting the housing challenge, 

Policy 10 Sustainable Design, Policy 15 Open space and green infrastructure. 

5.0.1 Policies in the Core Strategy aim to meet the housing challenge in the borough. Achieving 

this requires high quality homes which meet the needs of residents. Issues such as 

accessibility, noise, vibration, unit size and mix are considered here. There are also policies 

on student accommodation and provision for Gypsies and travellers. 

5.0.2 Given the demands for new housing, employment growth and the existing built-up character 

of the borough, Islington will continue to be a borough of high density for the UK and 

London. Density can be measured in a variety of ways such as habitable rooms per hectare, 

people per hectare and dwellings per hectare. The London Plan includes a density matrix 

in Table 3A.2 which shows appropriate densities for development in three different urban 

character types for London (suburban, urban & central). 

5.0.3 The density that is considered acceptable for Islington is the 650 -1100 hr/ha range, the 

highest band of the density matrix. This is in line with recent housing scheme permissions 

in the borough, with some schemes exceeding this range. Increased density results in 

more people living in a particular location and increased pressure on amenities. The need 

to maintain and improve people’s quality of life, while building at high densities, has a 

number of implications for the management of future development. These include, amongst 

other things: requirements for private and public outside amenity space, internal space 

requirements for homes, providing accessible and adaptable housing, and providing new 

physical and social infrastructure. 

Residential space requirements 

5.0.4 Homes need to be sensibly planned and functional, designed to meet the demands of 

everyday life. Homes should provide privacy, and sufficient space and facilities, including 

storage, to enable residents to live comfortably and conveniently. Homes should be 

adaptable to accommodate residents' changing needs and circumstances, such as mobility 

requirements, and the likely needs of diverse households over the life of the dwelling. 

5.0.5 The low level of public open space, and the high-density of built form in Islington, means 

that private outdoor space and internal space in the home are even more important to 

quality of life (including mental health) than in less densely populated areas. The home is 

often one of the few places residents can enjoy peace, quiet and privacy. 


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5 Housing 

5.0.6 Overcrowding in Islington is significantly greater than the national average. It is comparable 

to Greater London (Housing Needs Assessment, 2008) and possibly amongst the worst 

in London. 

5.0.7 Building densities will remain high so that housing need can be met in Islington; however, 

special attention needs to be paid to the size of new homes and the design of high density 

developments. The current planning space standards in Islington (the 'Planning Standards 

Guidelines' SPG) are based on national standards developed in the 1960s. There are 

housing space standards, such as those set by the Interim London Housing Design Guide, 

which are considered more appropriate. 

5.0.8 There are no minimum ceiling heights in Islington’s current planning standards. Many 

modern homes have relatively low ceiling heights of 2.3m to 2.4m to maximise the number 

of floors built at a given building height. Increased ceiling heights provide a greater sense 

of space in a smaller room and help keep the room cool in summer months, conversely 

they require more energy to heat in the winter. Higher ceiling heights also allow for future 

adaptability. 

5.0.9 Larger room and unit sizes are needed to ensure that people can happily live over the 

long-term in high density environments thus maintaining sustainable communities. Larger 

units and room sizes can be used more flexibly as they are generally more adaptable. 

5.0.10 The council has developed its own set of standards for accessible homes which sets 

minimum dimensions for circulation spaces and access to essential facilities within the 

home. The standards are described in the Accessible Housing Supplementary Planning 

Document (SPD) (adopted March 2009) and apply to all new housing, whether new build 

or conversion. The housing space standards policy incorporates these accessibility 

standards. 

Policy DM 25 

Mix of Housing Sizes 

To ensure the range of housing sizes needed in the borough is provided, the housing mix 

required on all major developments will be based on Islington's Housing Needs Assessment 

(2008). Future housing research may result in a different mix of housing sizes being required. 

The current housing size mix required for all major developments is set out in the table below. 

Housing Size Mix Required For Each Housing Tenure 

1-bed 

2-bed 

3-bed 

4-bed + 

Total 

Market 

10% 

75% 

15% 

0% 

100% 

Intermediate 

65% 

35% 

0% 

0% 

100% 

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1-bed 

2-bed 

3-bed 

4-bed + 

Total 

Social Rented 

0% 

20% 

30% 

50% 

100% 

5.0.11 The development of new homes forms a key aspect of delivering great places to live, 

creating choice through a mix of house types, and promoting mixed and integrated 

communities. The successful design of homes and communities means responding to 

location and context, including the natural and physical environment, promoting safety 

and security whilst supporting mixed tenure neighbourhoods which engender character, 

identity and amenity, including space for families and a sense of place. 

5.0.12 Because there is a significant housing need in the borough housing is regarded as a priority 

within Islington. The types of housing to be provided are as important as the quantity. 

Core Strategy Policy 12 (Meeting the Housing Challenge) sets out the strategic approach. 

The Core Strategy objectives about securing a supply of housing seeks to encourage 

mixed communities; where mixed communities include, (but are not limited to), different 

tenures, household sizes, and ages (including families, older people and disabled people). 

5.0.13 To create mixed and inclusive communities, the council will secure a range of self-contained 

homes of different sizes. The Housing Needs Study (2008) confirms the current housing 

stock in Islington is heavily skewed toward smaller dwelling types such as flats. The number 

of households who live in flats (81.0% of households) is significantly higher than the national 

average (16.7%) and Islington has nearly double the proportion of flats compared with 

Greater London (44.9%). Terrace housing accounts for the next highest proportion (16%). 

There are very low proportions of detached or semi-detached houses and bungalows in 

Islington. 

5.0.14 Survey data suggests that a high proportion of households in the borough (18.1%) are 

living in unsuitable housing. Of these households 70.6% would need to move to find 

suitable housing. However, many households cannot afford a suitable solution in the 

housing market without some form of subsidy, and are, therefore, considered to be in 

housing need. 

5.0.15 Development proposals should demonstrate how the mix of dwelling and the mix of tenures 

meet Islington's housing targets and are appropriate to the location. 

5.0.16 The Housing Needs Assessment (2008) included a ‘Balancing Housing Markets’ (BHM) 

assessment which looked at the whole local housing market, considering the extent to 

which supply and demand are ‘balanced’ across tenure and property size. Appendix 3 in 

the Housing Needs Assessment shows show the detailed analysis for the six components 

contributing to the BHM analysis for Islington. By combining the total demand and total 

supply tables (A3.1 and A3.8) the overall housing need can be established for different 

size housing across all tenures. The table in Policy DM24 has been derived by converting 

the housing unit numbers into percentage values for each tenure type and rounded up or 

down to the nearest 5%). 


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5.0.17 The council is examining the characteristics (salary and size of housing) of the people 

accessed intermediate housing in Islington to determine if this form of housing can meet 

the needs of its priority groups of residents. The council is also piloting the disposal of 

some one-bedroom units under shared ownership and will monitor the characteristics of 

the residents accessing this housing. Together this information will influence what the 

council consider is the appropriate housing size mix in the future. The council will keep 

this policy under review and supplement this with further evidence. 

Policy DM 26 

Conversion of Houses 

A. Applications for the conversion of existing houses into two or more self contained units 

are required to contain 3 and 2-bedroom flats to maintain a supply of larger homes to meet 

housing need. The following will be taken into account when considering the acceptability of 

proposed conversions: 

the extent to which the property contributes to meeting specific housing needs set out in 

the Housing Needs Assessment or Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) ; 

the effect on the amenity of neighbouring properties through noise, visual intrusion, the 

position of entrances, impact of parking areas, extensions and fire escapes; 

the size of the proposed property and its physical characteristics, including layout and 

size of rooms; 

the amenity of future occupants; 

the effect on the street scene of any changes to the external appearance of the building; 

and 

on-street parking conditions and on-street parking restrictions; the adequacy of public 

transport and on-site parking proposed. 

B. All conversions must be designed to meet minimum housing space standards. 

5.0.18 Islington's Housing Needs Study (2008) shows that two and three bedroom units are most 

needed for all tenure groups. Conversion of houses leads to the loss of larger properties 

and the creation of small units. Islington wants to maintain and increase 3-bedroom and 

3+ bedroom family housing, which meets at least the minimum space standards. Proposals 

which do not maintain a supply of larger homes to meet the borough's housing need are 

likely to be refused consent. . 

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Policy DM 27 

Housing Space Standards 

A. All new housing development (including conversions, Houses in Multiple Occupation and 

Sheltered Housing) are required to provide accommodation: 

i) of adequate size, with acceptable shape and layout of rooms (with due consideration to 

aspect, outlook, noise, ventilation, privacy, light); 

ii) 

with adequate play, amenity and garden space; 

iii) with sufficient space for storage and utility purposes(for general household storage, 

waste/recycling, washing machines/drying clothes, pushchairs and cycles); 

iv) to high quality design standards, built to be accessible and adaptable to meet changing 

occupier circumstances over its lifetime, which are attractive to and safe for all, built to 

Islington's Flexible Homes standards (as set out in SPD) and Islington's Planning Standards 

Guidelines, having regard to the Islington Urban Design Guide (including any alteration, 

amendment or replacement thereafter) to enable residents to live comfortably and conveniently. 

v) 10% of all new housing, calculated against the number of habitable rooms, is required to 

be wheelchair accessible, or easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users. The 

wheelchair accessible units should be provided across all tenures (and be integrated within 

the development), and deliver appropriate unit sizes. Each wheelchair housing unit is required 

to be single-storey, preferably on the ground floor. 

B. Internal Floor Area 

i) The following space standards must be met as a minimum in new developments and 

conversions. For dwellings designed for more than 6 people, allow 10m 2 of additional space 

per extra person thereafter. 

Minimum 

dwelling by floor 

area 

Dwelling type 

(bedroom/persons) 

Gross Internal Area 

(m 2 ) 

Storage 

(m 2 ) * 

Flats 

Studio/Bedsit ** 

32.5 

1.5 

1b2p 

50 

2.0 

2b3p 

61 

2.5 

2b4p 

70 

3.0 


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Minimum 

dwelling by floor 

area 

Dwelling type 

(bedroom/persons) 

Gross Internal Area 

(m 2 ) 

Storage 

(m 2 ) * 

3b4p 

74 

3.0 

3b5p 

86 

3.5 

3b6p 

95 

4.0 

4b5p 

90 

4.5 

4b6p 

99 

5.0 

2 storey houses 

2b4p 

83 

3.0 

3b4p 

87 

3.0 

3b5p 

96 

3.5 

4b5p 

100 

3.5 

4b6p 

107 

4.0 

3 storey houses 

3b5p 

102 

3.5 

4b5p 

106 

3.5 

4b6p 

113 

4.0 

* NB: to be provided in addition to the overall gross internal area 

**Studios/Bedsits will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances, where a larger unit is 

not possible. 

ii) At the planning application stage, Applicants are required to provide details of proposed 

overall floorspace and a breakdown of room sizes, including occupancy. 

iii) 

To avoid awkwardly and non-functional shaped rooms: 

Living rooms are required to have a minimum width of 3.2 metres 

Double/twin bedrooms are required to have a minimum width of 2.75 metres 

Single bedrooms are required to have a minimum width of 2.1 metres 

All bedrooms are required to have a minimum length of 3.0 metres 

The minimum area of a single bedroom is 8m 2 

The minimum area of a double or twin bedroom is 12m 2 

A 1500mm turning circle is required in living rooms, dining rooms, circulation space and 

in at least one bedroom 

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In kitchens, at least 1200mm is required between units and wall 

In wheelchair accessible housing a 1500mm turning circle is required in all rooms and 

wheelchair access to all spaces and facilities is required. 

iv) Dwelling plans are required to demonstrate how dwellings will accommodate the furniture, 

access and activity space requirements, as required in the Accessible Housing Supplementary 

Planning Document (SPD) (or any alteration, addition to, or replacement of this document) to 

meet the flexible homes standards and/or wheelchair accessible standards . 

v) Those details not evident on the dwelling plan are required to be detailed in the Design 

and Access Statement and relevant schedule of accommodation (for example, details such 

as level entry and shower hoist) 

vi) Dwelling plans are required to demonstrate how the construction of the building will allow 

for the internal reorganisation of rooms or the extension of the dwelling. 

vii) Dwelling plans will be required to demonstrate that they provide adequate space and 

services for occupants to be able to study/work from home. 

viii) Design proposals must demonstrate how an adequate level of privacy has been provided 

for habitable rooms within each dwelling. 

C. Floor to Ceiling Heights 

i) In new housing development, all habitable rooms including kitchens and bathrooms, are 

required to have a minimum floor to ceiling height of 2.6 metres (between finished floor level 

and finished ceiling level). 

ii) Single aspect habitable rooms are required to have a ceiling height greater than, or equal 

to, the depth divided by 2.5 and not less than 2.6 metres. The minimum ceiling height for single 

aspect habitable rooms is indicated in the table below: 

Worked Example 

D 

(Depth of habitable room in 

metres) 

H 

(Floor to ceiling height in 

metres) 

Single Aspect Room 

H≥D/2.5 

5 

6 

7 

8 

2.6 

2.6 

2.8 

3.2 


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iii) A lower ceiling height may be acceptable in residential conversions, in order to 

accommodate additional sound insulation, where is had been demonstrated that adequate 

insulation is not possible whilst providing the applicable minimum ceiling height. 

iv) Any floorspace that does not meet the minimum requirement floor to ceiling height will 

be excluded from measurements in relation to overall internal floor area requirements. 

D. Dual Aspect 

i) New homes are required to provide dual aspect. 

ii) For sites where dual aspect dwellings may be impossible or unfavourable, the design 

must demonstrate how a good level of natural ventilation and daylight will be provided for 

each habitable room. 

E. Daylight and Sunlight 

i) The glazing to all habitable rooms is required to be not less than 20% of the internal floor 

area of the room. 

ii) The design of the development is required to maximise light into the room (subject to 

passive heating and cooling considerations) and satisfy the BRE Guidance 'Site Layout 

Planning for Daylight and Sunlight' BRE 1991 (including any alteration, amendment or 

replacement of this document). 

iii) All homes should provide for direct sunlight to enter at least one habitable room for a 

reasonable period of the day. Living areas, kitchen and dining spaces should preferably receive 

direct sunlight. 

F. Approach and Entrance 

i) Approach should be logical, legible and step-free. 

ii) The overall travel distance between drop-off points (i.e. car parking space, car club, loading 

bay), the main entrance of a development, and the entrance of each individual dwelling should 

be kept to a minimum and demonstrably within the reach of ambulant disabled people (50 

metres is the maximum recommended by Inclusive Mobility produced by the DfT). 

iii) 

All entrances are required to be: 

visible from the public realm and clearly identified; 

illuminated and have level access over the threshold, and preferably be covered; and 

with a level landing in front of 1500mm x 1500mm clear of any door swing. 

G. Shared Circulation 

i) In all new housing development the number of dwellings accessed from a single core must 

not be more than eight on each floor; a smaller number is preferable. 

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ii) Common/shared entrances are required to lead to a hall large enough for people to 

manoeuvre with shopping and/or baby buggies, and in wheelchairs, with ease. 

iii) 

Communal circulation corridors are required to be a minimum of 1200mm wide. 

iv) An access core serving 4 or more dwellings must provide an access control system, with 

entry phones in all dwellings linked to a main front door with electric lock release. 

v) An access core serving more than 25 dwellings must provide additional security 

arrangements, such as access control systems with audio-visual verification or provision of a 

concierge. 

vi) 

External mail boxes should be provided for all new housing development. 

vii) Details shall be provided in the Design and Access Statement to demonstrate how shared 

circulation spaces will operate satisfactorily, including travel distances (refer 'Approach and 

Entrance') and details about the security and servicing arrangements, such as access control 

systems and mailbox locations. 

H. Circulation in new homes 

i) For all new development and conversions the width of the doorways and hallways is required 

to conform to the specifications below: 

The clear opening width of the front door must be at least 800mm. 

A 300mm nib is required beside the leading edge (latch side) of all doors at entrance 

level. 

All internal doors must have clear opening width of at least 775mm. 

All hallways and corridors inside a dwelling must have a clear width of at least 1050mm. 

ii) The design of dwellings over more than one-storey is required to provide space for (a) 

provision of a stair lift, and (b) a suitably identified space for a through-the-floor lift from the 

ground to the first floor. 

I. Storage and Utility Spaces 

i) Built-in general internal storage space, free of hot water cylinders and other obstructions, 

with a minimum internal height of 2m and a minimum area of 1.5m 2 , must be provided for 1-2 

person dwellings, in addition to storage provided by furniture in habitable rooms. For each 

additional occupant an additional 0.5 m 2 of storage space is required. 

ii) Dwelling plans should demonstrate that suitable space is provided for a washing machine, 

for drying clothes, and for waste and recycling bins within the home. 


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iii) Where cycle storage is provided within the home it should be in addition to the minimum 

GIA and minimum storage and circulation requirements. 

Also refer Policy DM23 (Cycle Parking and end-of-trip facilities) for additional requirements 

for the provision of cycle storage. 

5.0.19 Policy 12 (Meeting the Housing Challenge) Part A of the Core Strategy states the intention 

to set-out new standards for residential space and design, to provide high quality homes 

that provide a good quality of life. 

5.0.20 New homes in the United Kingdom are some of the smallest in Europe. Many homes do 

not provide enough space for storage, for children to play safely or to allow for the range 

of activities carried out in the home. This was confirmed in the recent report produced by 

CABE entitled "Space in new homes – What residents think" (2009). Constrained capacity 

for housing and projected growth in population creates design challenges in terms of 

outdoor amenity space, privacy, noise and light, safety and communal space. 

5.0.21 Having regard to these challenges, Islington needs to accommodate a range of housing 

types across a range of densities, making sure flats work for families as well as individuals. 

Providing a mix of dwellings makes communities safer and more secure as there is more 

potential for homes to be occupied during the day, providing natural surveillance, community 

interaction and environmental control. 

5.0.22 Housing must be well-designed, safe, adaptable, sustainable and attractive. It must provide 

the accessibility, adaptability and flexibility required for the 21st century living, address 

the challenges of climate change and help sustain thriving neighbourhoods. Achieving 

design excellence is not simply about applying a set of design standards. 

5.0.23 The Mayor has developed a Interim Housing Design Guide for London. The guide brings 

together and clarifies the required standards for new housing and sets minimum standards 

in a number of key areas in response to the particular challenges of developing high quality 

housing to meet the diverse range of needs in London. The proposed housing space 

standards generally provide an increase from the Parker Morris space standards. 

5.0.24 Islington has chosen to adopt the housing standards set out in this Design Guide for 

London across all housing types so all homes will be built to the same standard. The 

rationale behind this is housing design should be 'tenure blind', where affordable and 

private homes are indistinguishable from one another in terms of design quality, appearance 

or location on a site. Also, the need to improve design quality is as pressing in the private 

market sector as it is for affordable housing. Having the same space standards across 

tenures means that there will be no barriers to "suitability" of the tenure at some point in 

the future. This approach is consistent with the recently produced Interim Housing Design 

Guide (Aug 2010), published by the Mayor to support Policy 3.5 of the Draft Replacement 

London Plan, which applies the new quality and design standards to all new housing. 

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5.0.25 Every home needs to provide spaces, both inside and outside, for occupants to gather 

and to be apart from each other. Homes should have sufficient storage, space for work 

and study, and circulation spaces to provide for the needs of all potential occupants and 

their visitors. The quality of housing is affected by space as well as design, and good 

housing cannot be made from spaces that are too small. Space requirements aim to ensure 

rooms are large enough to take on a variety of uses and allow homes to be used in a 

variety of ways. 

5.0.26 New homes need to be built to be accessible and adaptable to meet changing 

circumstances over a person's lifetime, in developments that are attractive to, and safe 

for, all. New minimum space standards and homes that are adaptable to change as new 

occupants move in, families grow, and occupants age, or experience ill health, lie at the 

heart of London's new design standards for housing. Good space standards are particularly 

important in higher density housing, such as that in Islington, which is usually occupied to 

the maximum occupancy. Issues that need to be addressed include accessibility and 

adaptability, privacy, safety and security, daylighting, access to open space, play space, 

car use and climate change adaptation and mitigation. 

5.0.27 Flexible and adaptable housing design enables families to stay put, reduces unwanted 

moves and allow sustainable communities to develop. It can also avoid unsightly 

adaptations and extensions to accommodation and costly ancillary aids and services. 

5.0.28 Choices made about the organisation and design of circulation can significantly affect the 

social dynamics of a building, management and security requirements, and the satisfaction 

of residents. Security and management become issues when higher numbers of people 

use the same space. Residents sharing access with a smaller number of others on their 

floor tend to enjoy greater privacy, and a greater sense of ownership of the space. As a 

result they may take more responsibility for the upkeep of shared spaces. By contrast, 

increasing the number of dwellings sharing access on each floor increases the need for 

security and management. 

5.0.29 Housing must be designed to be safe and secure, welcoming and accessible for all and 

contribute to a sense of belonging. The entrance to a house/flat marks an important 

transition between the public and private domain. Design of shared circulation is an 

important consideration. The design of the how the shared circulation space will operate 

is important to the overall. For major developments details are required to be provided in 

the Design and Access Statement demonstrating how shared circulation spaces will operate 

satisfactorily, including details about the security and servicing arrangements, such as 

access control systems and mailbox locations. Mailboxes for buildings with common/shared 

entrances should preferably be provided so they can be accessed without compromising 

the safety and security of the private domain (i.e. deliveries made without accessing the 

interior of the building so the internal shared circulation space is not compromised by 

unauthorised entry). 


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5.0.30 It is always more convenient for wheelchair accessible housing to be provided as single 

storey accommodation; it enables the relationships between activities and family members 

to be simply, swiftly and directly managed. The avoidance of lifts in domestic context is 

also a clear priority given their cost, the space they occupy, the energy they consume and 

their propensity to failure (for further details refer to the Accessible Housing SPD). 

5.0.31 The accessibility of homes is influenced as much by their context, relationship to the local 

infrastructure, and the route to their front doors, as it is by their internal arrangement. 

Travel distances are particularly critical in relation to residential accommodation because 

very often the occupiers will be carrying shopping or receiving guests and deliveries. Those 

routes should be step free and accessible, the number of doors and gates kept to a 

minimum and all security devices accessible whilst meeting Secured by Design 

requirements. 

5.0.32 Further details about housing requirements, such as servicing, rubbish and storage will 

be set out in the Planning Standard Guidelines Supplementary Planning Document. 

Policy DM 28 

Private outdoor space 

A. All new development and conversions will be required to provide private outdoor amenity 

space in the form of gardens and/or balconies and/or roof terraces. 

B. Where buildings utilise roofs to provide outdoor amenity space the proposal should take 

into consideration issues of design, overlooking and crime prevention. Use of roofs for amenity 

purposes will need to be balanced with the use for green roofs and renewable energy equipment 

through careful design which integrates the benefits for amenity, biodiversity and carbon 

reduction. 

C. A minimum of at least 5m 2 of private outdoor space is required for 1-2 person dwellings 

and an extra 1m 2 should be provided for each additional occupant: 

Minimum sizes for private 

outdoor space: 

Flats/Houses 

Unit type (persons) 

1p/2p 

3p 

4p 

5p 

6p 

Minimum (m 2 ) 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

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Minimum sizes for private 

outdoor space: 

Unit type (persons) 

7p 

8p 

Minimum (m 2 ) 

10 

11 

D. All private outdoor space is required to provide step-free access and a level threshold 

from the home. 

E. Balconies providing amenity space should have a depth of not less than 1.5 metres and 

gardens should have a depth of not less than 4.5 metres. 

F. All ground floor units are required to have access to private outdoor amenity space of at 

least 30m 2 . 

Also refer to Policy DM49 (Play Space) for additional requirements for the provision of play 

space and DM48 (New Public Open Space). 

5.0.33 Private outdoor amenity space requirements have focused on the size of gardens. This 

has meant that if a new building or converted house has flats that do not have access to 

a garden, no other outside space has been provided. Given the dense built character of 

Islington, ground level gardens are difficult to provide, and access is often given only to 

the ground floor residences. If a communal garden is provided good accessibility, 

management and maintenance are key to its success. However, this costs money and 

still does not provide residents with their own private outdoor space accessible directly 

from their home. 

5.0.34 Balconies and roof terraces/gardens can help provide some outdoor space for city dwellers 

where gardens are not achievable. Larger buildings can have the ability to provide both 

private balconies and communal roof terraces. Using roofs for amenity space can reduce 

runoff of rain water by having plants and surfaces which slow the rate of water runoff. It 

is acknowledged there can be a potential conflict in the use of roofs between the need for 

amenity space and creating green roofs and providing space for renewable energy 

purposes. Good design should aim to resolve any potential conflicts between creating 

green roofs, providing renewable energy and supplying amenity space on roofs for 

residents. It may be that some roof space may not always be suitable for amenity purposes. 

5.0.35 Concerns with overlooking and noise have traditionally meant that roof terraces have not 

been considered acceptable but careful design can reduce this impact. Concerns regarding 

noise should also be considered in the context of the noise generated by residents using 

their gardens, and how that currently impacts on dwellings above them. 


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Policy DM 29 

Noise 

A. All development proposals shall demonstrate how potential adverse noise impact between 

dwellings will be mitigated by housing layout and design. 

B. The layout of adjacent dwellings and the location of lifts and circulation spaces is required 

to limit the transmission of noise to sound sensitive rooms within dwellings. 

C. Sufficient sound insulation with reasonable resistance to airborne sounds shall be installed 

in all walls and floors between flats and public or communal areas. Floors between dwellings 

and between dwellings and public or communal areas should also have sufficient sound 

insulation to ensure resistance to the impact of sound. 

D. In addition, sound insulation shall be provided to any internal walls which separate 

proposed individual dwellings from others and to walls which separate dwellings from any 

parts of the building which will be in public or communal use, eg. Hallways and staircases. 

Again, the level of sound insulation is required to be provided to a standard greater than the 

standard specified in the ‘Building Regulations 2003 Approved Document E: Resistance to 

the Passage of Sound’. 

E. In high density development or mixed-use development, a higher standard of noise 

insulation will be sought. 'Floating floor' or independent ceiling construction is required to 

separate a residential dwelling from another residential dwelling or commercial development, 

eg. restaurant or shop, within the same building. 

5.0.36 Noise is a major cause of stress in cities, particularly when an individual has no control 

over it. Traffic, neighbours and even other occupants within a home can all be sources of 

excessive noise. There is a disproportionate effect on elderly and disabled people and 

those with young children. Some residential developments built in noisy locations have 

a high level of acoustic insulation, however, once a window is opened the impact of noise 

can be excessive. Windows should be able to be opened to allow natural ventilation and 

still provide a reasonable level of noise insulation. 

5.0.37 Building regulations provide targets for sound reduction; however, these are not necessarily 

sufficient for high density living such as that typically found within Islington. The location 

and internal layout of residential accommodation is important to ensure individuals have 

opportunities in their home to not be disturbed by noise nuisance from their fellow occupants 

or the outside environment. 

5.0.38 When designing buildings acoustic conditions need to be considered. Noise from the street 

and adjoining properties is an important cause of stress, sleep disturbance and friction 

between neighbours. Internal layouts should be planned to limit the effect of noise from 

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adjoining properties in sound sensitive rooms. All new housing within Islington should be 

built with acoustic insulation and tested to be higher than the current Building Regulations 

standards. 

Policy DM 30 

Sheltered Housing and Care Homes 

A. The council will support the provision of sheltered housing and care homes provided the 

development: 

i) will be suitable for the intended occupiers in terms of the standard of facilities, the level of 

independence, and provision of care and/or support; and 

ii) will be accessible to public transport, shops, services and community facilities appropriate 

to the needs of the intended occupiers; and 

B. The council will resist development which involves the loss of floorspace in sheltered 

housing and care homes unless either: 

i) adequate replacement accommodation will be provided that satisfies A (i) to (iii) above; 

or 

ii) it can be demonstrated that there is a surplus over a long-term of this housing type in this 

area of Islington. 

C. 10% of all new housing, calculated against habitable rooms, is designed to be wheelchair 

accessible, or easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users. The wheelchair 

accessible units should be provided across all tenures and deliver appropriate unit sizes. 

5.0.39 Sheltered housing is an important form of housing which enables people, particularly the 

elderly, to live independently with the reassurance of someone to call on in emergencies. 

Some sheltered housing schemes can offer an extra level of care for people who need a 

bit more daily assistance but do not need the level of care provided in a care home. 

Policy DM 31 

HMOs & Student Accommodation 

A. All new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and student accommodation must be 

built to Islington's Flexible Home standards (as defined in the Accessible Housing SPD) and 

10% of bed spaces designed to be wheelchair accessible. The 10% wheelchair accessible 

standard rooms must be fully fitted from the outset. 

HMOs 


71

5 Housing 

B. The council will support the provision of new HMOs where they: 

i) have good accessibility to public transport, shops, services, community facilities; 

ii) 

iii) 

iv) 

do not give rise to any adverse amenity impact(s) on the surrounding neighbourhood; 

do not result in the loss of existing larger housing; 

contribute to creating a mixed and inclusive community. ; and 

v) there is not an over-concentration in one area. 

C. The council will resist the loss of HMOs 

5.0.40 Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which are of a good standard, provide an important 

part of the provision of cheaper housing in Islington, particularly for young people and 

those with low incomes. For some, the availability of bedsits or lodgings may be the only 

alternative to homelessness. HMOs are generally defined as being houses where more 

than six people live together, not as a single household, and their accommodation is not 

self-contained. The 10% wheelchair accessible bed spaces should be fully fitted from the 

outset because leases are short and turnover relatively high. 

72 


6 Employment 


73

6 Employment 

6 Employment 



Policy 13 Employment Spaces 

6.0.1 Core Strategy Policy 13 aims to provide for future employment growth in the borough, by 

protecting existing employment, including business floorspace and promoting new and/or 

intensified floorspace. The policy encourages a range of types and sizes of new work 

spaces, to encourage flexibility and ensure that supply meets local demand. The policy 

also aims to address worklessness, by requiring development to contribute to the local 

economy through the provision of employment and training opportunities. Policies within 

this section support implementation of the Core Strategy. 

6.0.2 A loss of business floorspace, or a failure of developments to provide a sufficient uplift 

compared to the existing amount of floorspace, would be contrary to business growth 

requirements. Policy DM32 addresses this issue. 

Policy DM 32 

Redevelopment of existing business space 

A. Inside the Central Activities Zone (CAZ) and town centres a significant uplift of business 

floorspace is required as part of development proposals; this is required to be the maximum 

amount of business floorspace reasonably possible on the site, whilst complying with other 

relevant planning considerations. Clear and robust evidence is required to demonstrate that 

the proposed amount of business floorspace is the maximum reasonably possible for the site. 

B. Outside the CAZ and town centres an uplift of business floorspace is required as part of 

redevelopment proposals, where achievable. Where an increase is not achievable and this 

has been clearly and robustly demonstrated, the retention or re-provision of at least the existing 

amount of business floorspace is required as part of the development. 

C. Development that will deliver an increase or retention of business floorspace should also 

provide for a mix of suitable uses; however, business uses are required to account for the 

majority of the net internal floorspace and the above Parts A / B of this policy are required to 

be complied with. 

D. Planning permission will be refused for a loss or reduction of business floorspace, except 

where exceptional circumstances can be clearly and robustly justified. 

74 


6 Employment 

E. The redevelopment of existing floorspace within Use Classes B2 and B8 will only be 

permitted where a reprovision or increase of the existing amount of employment floorspace 

within Use Classes B2 and B8 would occur as part of development proposals. 

6.0.3 The Islington Employment Study Update (2008) identifies a need for 529,430m 2 of additional 

B-Use floorspace 2006-2026. There is an identified supply of 65,000m 2 of unimplemented 

planning permissions. Accounting for this, the B-Use floorspace requirement is 464,000m 2 , 

which corresponds to 371,544 m 2 over the period 2011-2026. This is a 20.5% increase 

on the existing 1,810,000m 2 . This is a conservative estimate, given that not all 

unimplemented planning permissions will be implemented. Based on this evidence a 

significant increase in business floorspace is required on development sites, which shall 

be the maximum that can be accommodated, subject to the full range of other planning 

policies and considerations. 

6.0.4 In relation to Parts A and B of policy DM32 evidence to demonstrate that the maximum 

amount of business floorspace reasonably possible on site is proposed shall include 

evidence of a lack of demand for a greater level of business floorspace than the proposed 

amount. Where there is no demand for business floorspace above existing amounts 

evidence in the form of a market demand analysis produced by a suitably qualified and 

impartial organisation is required to be submitted. 

6.0.5 In relation to any loss of business floorspace and / or floorspace within Use Classes B2 

and/or B8 planning applications must demonstrate clear and robust evidence that there 

is no demand for use of the building, unit and/or site for these purposes. This evidence 

requires an active marketing period of at least 2 years, which is shown to be unsuccessful. 

Active marketing should include all of the following: 

1. contact information posted in a prominent location on site, in the form of an advertising 

board (subject to advertising consent, if required); 

2. property registered with at least one commercial property agent; 

3. property details / particulars available to inquirers on request; 

4. property registered with the council's business support team; 

5. property marketed for a range of business uses and/or B2 and/or B8, where 

appropriate, taking account of permitted changes of use, and 

6. property marketed at a reasonable price, including in relation to condition, quality and 

location of floorspace. 

6.0.6 Sufficient detailed information is required to be submitted alongside any planning application 

to demonstrate compliance with the above criteria, and information is required to be 

submitted with regards to: 

1. the number and details of enquiries received; 

2. the number of viewings; 

3. the number, type, proposed uses and value of offers received; 

4. reasons for refusal of any offer received, and / or reasons why any offers fell through; 


75

6 Employment 

5. the asking price / rent the site / property has been offered at, including a professional 

valuation from at least three agents to confirm that this is reasonable; 

6. the length of marketing period (at least 2 years minimum continuous marketing), 

including dates, and 

7. the length of the vacancy period. 

6.0.7 Use Classes B2 and B8 have a strategic function in the borough and in London, providing 

a service to the CAZ, but do not necessarily generate high employment densities on site. 

The protection of these uses is considered important for strategic reasons. 

Policy DM 33 

New Employment Space 

A. New employment space is required to be designed to allow for future flexibility for a range 

of uses and to cater for the possibility of future sub-division and / or amalgamation for a range 

of accommodation, including smaller units. 

B. New employment space is required to include active frontages at ground floor level, where 

this would be beneficial to the street. 

C. Planning applications for live-work units and apart-hotels will be considered as an 

application for residential use. 

6.0.8 Flexible design includes the provision of adequate floor to ceiling heights, and the provision 

of well-located lift cores, accesses and loading facilities so that the building is suitable and 

/ or adaptable for a range of uses. 

6.0.9 Full details of servicing, including delivery hours and frequency, and service bay location 

and operation (including swept path analysis) are required in relation servicing 

arrangements, where relevant. The council will, where appropriate, control aspects of 

servicing by condition. Policy DM 24 refers to servicing. 

6.0.10 Active frontages have advantages, in terms of natural surveillance and improving the 

vitality and liveliness of a street and area, and will be beneficial for properties within the 

public realm. 

6.0.11 Live-work units, due to the higher property value of residential units, are generally used 

for residential purposes and do not generate significant employment. 

6.0.12 Apart-hotels, or serviced apartments, are a sui generis use. They can be occupied for long 

lengths of time and therefore there is a need for them to meet residential standards and 

to have a high level of amenity. In addition they generate a very limited amount of 

employment on site. As such they will be considered as an application for residential use. 

76 


7 Shops, Leisure and Services 


77





Policy 1 Archway, Policy 2 Finsbury Park, Policy 3 Nag's Head and Upper Holloway Road, 

Policy 5 Angel, Policy 6 Employment, Policy 14 Retail and Services, Policy 8 Enhancing 

Islington's character, Policy 14 Retail and Services 

7.0.1 The Core Strategy aims to maintain the existing healthy retail economy and provide a 

range of goods and services. Major retail and leisure developments should be focused in 

the existing town centres, and independent retailers and local shopping areas are promoted 

and supported. 

7.0.2 Islington has four town centres: two are classified as major town centres (Angel and Nag's 

Head) and two are district town centres (Archway and Finsbury Park). The boundaries of 

these town centres are shown on Maps 1 to 4. There are also shops spread across the 

rest of the borough in small local parades or isolated shops . As well as shops there are 

other businesses in these town and local shopping parades, such as banks, post offices, 

estate agents, dry cleaners, solicitors, cafés, restaurants and hot food take-aways. These 

businesses not only help support shopping areas but also provide services and jobs for 

local people and other businesses. 

7.0.3 Town centres are crucial to the social, economic and environmental well being of the 

borough. Retailing should constitute the main use within the borough's town centres as it 

is an activity undertaken by everyone, and therefore should be accessible to all. The role 

and function of town centres must meet the needs of diverse communities, help reduce 

social exclusion, and create opportunities for everyone. 

7.0.4 The council seeks to advise and support local employers and service providers as to how 

their accommodation and its management can enable them to recruit and retain a diverse 

work force and deliver inclusive services,and to honour their duties under the Equalities 

Act (2010). 

7.0.5 Within town centres there are different concentrations of shops and other businesses. The 

areas which should mainly be shops are defined as 'primary frontages' and areas that 

have greater opportunities for a diversity of uses are defined as 'secondary frontages'. 

The primary and secondary frontages are designated on the Proposals Map and set out 

in Appendix 2. 

78 



Figure 7.1 Hierarchy of Shops 

Policy DM 34 

Promoting small and independent shops 

A. The council will encourage the provision of accessible small shops (typically a 'small 

shop' is a unit with 80m 2 

gross floorspace or less, occupied by an independent retailer or 

service outlet) suitable for small and independent retailers throughout the borough by: 

i) requiring large retail developments to include a proportion of small units; 

ii) encouraging the occupation of shops by independent retailers and the provision of 

affordable premises; and 

iii) where appropriate, attaching conditions to planning permissions for retail development 

to remove the ability to amalgamate units into larger premises. 

7.0.6 Islington's many small and independent shops give the borough its character. Specialist 

shopping areas, such as Camden passage are nationally, as well as locally, known and 

add to Islington's distinctiveness and attractiveness as a place to live in and visit. 

7.0.7 Islington's local shops provide for the day-to-day needs of the local population, workers 

and visitors and help to provide locally accessible facilities for those on low income, the 

elderly and people with mobility difficulties. Small and independent shops allow people to 

shop locally on foot, and can provide greater consumer choice and local employment. 

They can also play an important social role in the community, as well as contributing to 

the unique character and identity of the local area. 

7.0.8 However, over recent years there has been a decline in local shops. There are various 

national campaigns to encourage people to shop locally, and Islington has introduced 

various initiatives to encourage and promote small and independent shops. One example 


79


is the production of the 'Essential Guide to Islington' which includes highlights about 

shopping within the borough. Islington is well known for the quality and diversity of its local 

shops and the council wants to encourage people to shop locally within the borough. The 

council will actively promote independent retail. 

7.0.9 The council will encourage developers and owners to seek independent retailers for small 

units where possible, and provide premises at affordable rents to encourage small 

businesses. 'Affordable rents' are considered to be those which are significantly lower 

than the market rate and 'independent retailers' are understood to generally mean, a single 

retail outlet, or a chain of two or three stores, managed by either a sole trader or a family 

firm. The policy about promoting small and independent shops sets out some of the 

measures the council can pursue in order to encourage and promote the provision of small 

and independent shops in new developments, and to protect shops outside of centres. 

7.0.10 The council will develop a better understanding of small and independent shops within 

Islington when undertaking further review and analysis as part of the development of the 

SPDs for each of the town centres. 

Policy DM 35 

Concentration of Uses 

A. Night-time activities are generally appropriate in town centres. 

B. Uses that support the night-time economy within town centres, such as cinemas, theatres, 

restaurants, pubs and other similar uses will be supported if: 

i) they are compatible with other town centre uses; and 

ii) there is not an adverse effect on the amenity of nearby uses, and surrounding residential 

areas. 

C. The council will discourage proposals that will result in a unacceptable concentration of 

similar uses in one area or uses that will have a singular or cumulative effect on the area as 

a result of disturbance, amenity or type of facility. The council’s adopted statement of licensing 

policy, which is location specific, will be a key consideration in assessing proposals. 

D. When assessing proposals for restaurants, cafés, betting shops, estate agents, amusement 

centres, casinos, nightclubs, drinking establishments and hot food takeaways the council will 

take into account the following: 

i) the hours of opening, operation and delivery; 

ii) 

iii) 

the effectiveness of measures to mitigate odour and noise from the premises; 

where appropriate the proportion of existing A2, A3, A4 and A5 uses within an area, and 

80 



iv) the proximity to education uses. 

7.0.11 Due to the borough's densely developed, mixed-use nature, much night-time activity occurs 

close to places where people live. While this can make a positive contribution, a 

concentration of night-time uses can change the character of the area and reduce the 

range of shops or the quality of the shopping environment. The council will seek to prevent 

concentrations of uses that would harm an area's attractiveness to shoppers or its 

residential amenity. The council may resist the concentration of food, drink and 

entertainment uses where they cause harm to the character, function and amenity of 

residents within an area. 

7.0.12 Night-time activities can contribute positively to the vitality and vibrancy of town centres. 

They can improve levels of safety and perceptions of personal safety of an area by providing 

informal surveillance for passers-by. However, if not properly managed they can result in 

adverse effect on the surrounding neighbourhood with adverse amenity effects generated 

from noise and anti-social behaviour. 

7.0.13 The council will ensure that development of shopping, services, food, drink, entertainment 

and other town centre uses do not cause harm to the character, function, vitality and 

viability of a centre, engender social exclusion or harassment, or damage the local area 

or the amenity of neighbours. 

7.0.14 When considering applications for hot food takeaways proximity to educational 

establishments will be taken into account with a view to protecting children’s health. 

Applications for hot food takeaways in close proximity to schools will be refused. 

7.0.15 The council would like to see a wide range of entertainment and cultural uses within its 

centres, not just those that primarily involve drinking, and will encourage suitable uses 

that contribute towards this. 

7.0.16 The council acknowledges that conflicts between uses can often be adequately managed 

using its statutory duties under the Licensing Act 2003, rather than by regulating planning 

use classes. As such, and to ensure consistency in decision-making, the policy provides 

flexibility in determining appropriate locations for entertainment uses, and requires the 

council’s statement of licensing policy to be a key consideration in assessing proposals. 

7.0.17 The council considers that some types of shops and services (referred to as key local 

shops) should be easily accessible to all residents, and will encourage their provision 

across the borough and resist their loss. These key local shops comprise: butcher, baker, 

greengrocer, grocer, fishmonger, chemist, post office, newsagent/confectioner, off-licenses, 

dry cleaners and laundrette. 


81


Policy DM 36 

Development within Town Centre boundaries 

A. The Islington town centre boundaries are defined on Maps 7.1 to 7.4, and are designated 

on the Proposals Map. 

Map 7.1 - Angel 

Map 7.2 - Nag's Head 

Map 7.3 - Archway 

Map 7.4 - Finsbury Park 

B. Primary and secondary frontages are designated to manage the different uses in town 

centres. Primary and secondary frontages are shown on the Proposals Map, Maps 7.1 to 7.4, 

and set out in schedule in Appendix 2. 

C. Development within the designated town centres is required to: 

i) be appropriate to the scale, character and function of the centre; 

ii) 

iii) 

not harm the vitality and viability of the centre or other centres; 

respect and enhance the heritage, character and local distinctiveness of the centre; 

iv) meet the council's Inclusive Design policies (as set out in the Design and Heritage policies); 

and 

v) not cause a detrimental disturbance from noise, odour, fumes or other environmental 

harm. 

D. Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) will be produced to provide the detail of the 

vision for the town centres. These documents will guide development, the type of land uses, 

size and type of shops that should be promoted and/or would be acceptable in different areas 

of the town centre. These SPDs will also help coordinate improvements between different 

agencies, look at public realm and access amongst other things to protect and support local 

shops. 

82 



Map 7.1 Angel Town Centre Boundaries and Frontages 


83


Map 7.2 Nag's Head Town Centre Boundaries and Frontages 

84 



Map 7.3 Archway Town Centre Boundary & Frontages 


85


Map 7.4 Finsbury Park Town Centre Boundary & Frontages 

86 



Policy DM 37 

Primary frontages 

A. The primary shopping frontages in the borough are designated on the Proposals Map 

and in Appendix 2 and shown on Maps 7.1 to 7.4. 

B. Development within the primary shopping frontages shall maintain or increase the provision 

of shops (Use Class A1). 

C. Proposals to change the use of existing retail premises (Use Class A1) in primary shopping 

frontages will not be permitted unless all the following criteria are satisfied: 

i) the resulting proportion of retail units would not fall below 70% in the primary frontage; 

ii) the proposed change of use would not result in a break in continuity of retail frontage of 

more than one non-retail unit in any frontage; 

iii) the premises has been vacant for a period of at least 2 years and marketing evidence 

for this 2 year vacancy period is provided and demonstrates there is no realistic prospect of 

the unit being used for retail; 

iv) the proposed use would not have a detrimental effect on the predominantly retail function 

and character of the centre, and its vitality and viability, and 

vi) 

all proposed uses on the ground floor would provide an active frontage. 

Policy DM 38 

Secondary frontages 

A. The secondary shopping frontages in the borough are designated on the Proposals Map 

and Appendix 2 and shown on Maps 7.1 to 7.4. 

B. Within secondary shopping frontages the council will retain the general retail (Use Class 

A1) character of the frontage while permitting a limited number of non-retail units. Proposals 

to change the use of existing retail premises will not be permitted unless all of the following 

criteria are satisfied: 

i) the resulting proportion of retail units would not fall below 50% in the secondary frontage; 

ii) the proposed change of use would not result in a break in continuity of retail frontage of 

more than two non-retail units in any frontage; 


87


iii) the premises has been vacant for a period of at least 2 years and marketing evidence 


the unit being used for retail (Use Class A1); 

iv) the proposed use would support the retail function and character of the town centre, and 

its vitality and viability; 

v) the proposed use would provide a service to shoppers, and 

vi) 

the proposed use on the ground floor would provide an active frontage. 

C. In judging the acceptability of proposals for non-retail uses the council will have regard 

to all of the following criteria: 

i) the number of similar uses in and around the area, and their accessibility for all users; 

ii) 

the compatibility of the proposed use with the shopping frontage, and 

iii) the impact on the physical environment, including any impacts on the appearance of the 

frontage. 

7.0.18 Achieving the right balance of retail and non-retail uses within Islington's town centres is 

critical to ensuring their vitality and viability. For this reason it is important that a ‘critical 

mass’ of retailing uses is maintained within the primary shopping areas of the borough’s 

town centres. Outside these areas, there is more scope to introduce other town centre 

uses, providing greater opportunities for flexibility and a diversity of uses in the interests 

of maintaining and enhancing a town centre’s vitality and viability. 

7.0.19 The primary and secondary frontages are set out on the Proposals Map and Appendix 2. 

Within the primary frontage, retail is the principal and dominant land use. Primary shopping 

frontages contain the most important shopping facilities which attract the greatest number 

of customers and which contribute to the vibrancy and vitality of the centre. Secondary 

frontages support the retail function of the primary frontage of the centre. Within the primary 

and secondary frontages, the council will not support uses that do not complement and 

maintain the surrounding retail character. The council will seek to retain all class A1 uses 

within the primary frontages and maintain a continuous retail frontage. Within the secondary 

frontages there may be more flexibility about the proportion of non-A1 uses that will be 

permitted as it is recognised that town centres should perform a function beyond retail to 

ensure vitality and viability of these places. Suitable non-retail uses may include banks, 

building societies, job centres, small service offices, advice centres, clinics and other health 

and welfare services, theatres, restaurants and community uses which are appropriate to 

a town centre. 

88 



7.0.20 Each town centre within the borough has its own distinct character. Development must 

respect and enhance this, whilst meeting modern needs for suitable provision. The council 

has collated, and will continue to gather, information on the diversity and level of inclusion 

achieved in its town centres. This will be reflected in SPDs to be produced for the town 

centres, and for shopping areas that are historic and/or locally important. 

7.0.21 Before accepting the loss of any retail unit, the council will require satisfactory evidence 

of full and proper marketing that has taken place for at least two years or more and the 

unit offered for retail use at a reasonable market rate. If the retention of the retail use is 

proven to not be possible then other compatible town centre uses should be considered 

before residential use. 

7.0.22 The council will not grant planning permission for development it considers would cause 

harm to the character, amenity, function, vitality and viability of a town centre. 

7.0.23 Accessible services, such as GP surgeries, solicitors, post offices, pharmacies, groceries 

and news agents are essential to the vitality and viability of our town centres. Maintaining 

these services will contribute to the inclusivity and sustainability of local communities, 

reducing the number and length of local journeys undertaken and promoting a sense of 

local sufficiency. 

7.0.24 Applications for betting shops (A2 use) will be resisted. In addition to planning control 

betting shops are also subject to licensing control. 

Policy DM 39 

Local Shopping Parades 

A. Local shopping parades are designated on the Proposals Map, and are shown in Appendix 

3. 

B. Proposals to change the use of existing retail premises (Use Class A1) will not be permitted 

unless all of the following criteria are satisfied: 

i) the premises has been vacant for a period of at least 2 years and marketing evidence for 

this 2 year vacancy period is provided and demonstrates there is no realistic prospect of the 

unit being used for retail (Use Class A1); 

ii) individually, or cumulatively, the proposed use would not have an adverse effect on the 

vitality, viability and predominantly retail function (where appropriate) of the parade; 

iii) there is an alternative accessible provision of retail use within 400 metres (approximately 

a 5 minute walk); 

iv) where applicable, the change of use would not result in a significant break in the continuity 

of retail frontages, and 


89


v) the proposed use would contribute to the vitality and viability of the local shopping parade 

and would not adversely affect the surrounding neighbourhood. 

C. Other community or commercial uses may be appropriate to support viability and vitality 

of the area in preference to a change of use to residential. The following sequential hierarchy 

shall be followed when assessing proposed changes of use: 

i) Use Class A2 (financial and professional services, with the exception of betting shops) 

ii) 

Use Class A3 (restaurants and cafés) 

iii) Use Class D1 (non-residential institutions) 

iv) Use Class B1 (business) 

v) Use Class C3 (dwelling houses) 

D. The council will support and encourage local trader associations and property freeholders 

to coordinate management activities within the local shopping parade. This includes running 

street markets, events, customer service, access awareness training, activities, exhibitions 

and leasing properties. 

7.0.25 There are numerous local shopping parades and individual (local) shops within the borough 

which complement the larger town centres (refer Appendix 3) . These local shopping 

parades provide a valuable service to the local community, by meeting the day-to-day 

needs of the local population, workers and visitors. They can also provide locally accessible 

facilities for people with mobility difficulties. They can provide an important social role for 

the surrounding community, as well as contributing to the character and identity of the 

area. The council will, therefore, seek to retain these units in retail use unless it can be 

demonstrated that they no longer serve a function to the local community and are unable 

to be rented for retail use. 

7.0.26 The council will resist the loss of shops (Class A1) unless there is an alternative readily 

accessible and convenient provision within 400 metres for all users (approximately a 5 

minute walk). This alternative provision must take account of the quality of this route (such 

as highways to cross, gradient and lighting). Commercial uses will be preferred over a 

change of use to residential. 

7.0.27 Where there is a loss of retail use, appropriate alternative uses are considered to be those 

which provide essential services for residents. While betting shops fall within the A2 use 

class applications for betting shops will be resisted. In addition to planning control betting 

shops are also subject to licensing control. 

90 



Policy DM 40 

Individual (Local) Shops 

A. The council will support and protect individual (local) shops (Use Class A1) located outside 

the designated town centres and local shopping parades, which serve local needs, and will 

seek to ensure that there is accessible provision of essential daily goods within reasonable 

walking distance around the borough. 

B. Proposals to change the use of existing individual (local) shops (Use Class A1) will not 

be permitted unless: 

i) the premises has been vacant for a period of at least 2 years and marketing evidence 


the unit being used for retail (Use Class A1); 

ii) 

iii) 

the existing retail use is inappropriate in terms of access or neighbourliness; and/or 

the proposed use would provide a community service or function. 

C. Other community or commercial uses may be appropriate to support viability and vitality 

of the area in preference to a change of use to residential. The following sequential hierarchy 

shall be followed when assessing proposed changes of use: 

i) Use Class A2 (financial and professional services, with the exception of betting shops) 

ii) 

Use Class A3 (restaurants and cafés) 

iii) Use Class D1 (non-residential institutions) 

iv) Use Class B1 (business) 

v) Use Class C3 (dwelling houses) 

D. The council will discourage the loss of other A-uses where they contribute to the liveliness 

and vitality of the neighbourhood and provide a service of particular local value and do not 

harm the character, appearance and amenity of the area. 

E. New retail units to serve new housing developments may be required where there are 

none provided within reasonable walking distance (approximately 400 metres). 

7.0.28 Policy 14 of the Core Strategy (Retail and Services) Part D states that independent retail 

will be actively promoted and major retail developments will be required to provide a good 

supply of smaller retail units. 


91


7.0.29 Individual (local) shops can provide a valuable service to the local community, providing 

for day-to-day needs of the local populations, providing locally accessible facilities for 

people with mobility difficulties. The council encourages essential services to be provided 

- e.g. corner shop, post office, pharmacy, clinic, advice centres etc 

7.0.30 There is significant competition between different land uses, particularly for conversion of 

individual (local) shops to residential use in areas outside town centres and local shopping 

parades. The council will seek to retain these units in retail use unless it can be 

demonstrated that they have been vacant for a period of two years or more; are unable 

to be marketed for retail use; and no longer serve a function to the local community. The 

council will resist the loss of shops (Use Class A1) unless there is an alternative accessible 

provision within 400 metres (approximately a 5 minute walk). 

7.0.31 Where there is a loss of retail (Use Class A1), appropriate alternative uses are considered 

to be those which provide essential services for residents. While betting shops fall within 

the A2 Use Class, applications for betting shops will be resisted. In addition to planning 

control betting shops are also subject to licensing control. 

7.0.32 In relation to any loss of retail (Use Class A1), planning applications must demonstrate 

clear and robust evidence that there is no demand for use of the building / unit for this 

purpose. This marketing evidence requires an active marketing period of at least 2 years, 

which is shown to be unsuccessful. Active marketing should include all of the following: 

1. contact information posted in a prominent location on site, in the form of an advertising 

board (subject to advertising consent, if required); 

2. property registered with at least one commercial property agent; 

3. property details / particulars available to inquirers on request; 

4. property registered with the council's business support team; 

5. property marketed for retail (Use Class A1), where appropriate, taking account of 

permitted changes of use, and 

6. property marketed at a reasonable price, including in relation to condition, quality and 

location of floorspace. 

7.0.33 Sufficient detailed information is required to be submitted alongside any planning application 

to demonstrate compliance with the above criteria, and information is required to be 

submitted with regards to: 

1. the number and details of enquiries received; 

2. the number of viewings; 

3. the number, type, proposed uses and value of offers received; 

4. reasons for refusal of any offer received, and / or reasons why any offers fell through; 

5. the asking price / rent the site / property has been offered at, including a professional 

valuation from at least three agents to confirm that this is reasonable; 

6. the length of marketing period (at least 2 years minimum continuous marketing), 

including dates, and 

7. the length of the vacancy period. 

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Policy DM 41 

Shop Fronts 

A. Within primary and secondary frontages A-uses premises shall retain a window display 

at all times in the window(s) fronting the street at ground floor level, to contribute to the vitality 

and viability of the town centre. 

B. The council will resist the removal of shop fronts of architectural or historic interest, 

including those on the Register of Locally Significant Shopfronts. 

C. The council will expect proposals for new shop fronts and alterations to existing shop 

fronts to demonstrate a high quality of design, which complements the original design, 

proportions, materials and detailing of the shop front, surrounding streetscene and the building 

of which it forms part. 

D. Blinds, canopies or shutters, where acceptable in principle, must be appropriate to the 

character of the shop-front and its setting; external security grilles will not normally be permitted; 

in sensitive areas, rigid and gloss finish blinds will generally be unacceptable. 

E. Signage and illumination to shop fronts must be sited so as not to cause visual intrusion 

from light pollution into adjoining or nearby residential properties, flashing internal or external 

lighting, and/or internally illuminated box signs will not be permitted. 

F. New shop fronts must be designed to allow equal access for all users, incorporating the 

highest practicable standard of access and inclusion. The use within the curtilage of the building 

shall not reduce access for other pavement users. 

G. Proposals are required to take account of the council's Shopfront Design Guide. 

7.0.34 Islington has many important shopping areas and groups of shops which are often busy 

and well-known public places with their own distinctive character and history. Unfortunately, 

the character and quality of some of the traditional shopping streets in Islington has been 

eroded by poor, careless and unsympathetic alterations to shop fronts. Widespread use 

of relatively cheap materials and standardised shop front designs has led to a loss of local 

distinctiveness. Inappropriate shop fronts and large attention grabbing signs dominate the 

street scene in some places, and this has had a negative impact on historically important 

buildings, as well some of the shopping areas. The council is committed to reversing this 

trend and ensuring that alterations to shop fronts in Islington are well designed, and 

contribute positively to the surrounding area. This will not only help businesses, but will 

also improve the streetscape for all the people that use it. 

7.0.35 The design of new shopfronts and alterations to existing shopfronts is important both to 

the appearance of the individual property and to the maintenance of the character and 

appearance of shopping areas. Shop fronts of architectural or historic interest make an 

important contribution to the character and appearance of the borough 


93


7.0.36 The council will expect well designed accessible shop fronts that respect the character of 

the area and the architectural unity and integrity of the shop building of which they for a 

part of. The design of a new shop front within a modern building should reflect the design 

of the building of which it forms a part, but should also consider the appearance of 

neighbouring shop fronts in terms of fascia lines, stall riser height, materials and other 

architectural features. The design of a shop front where the traditional surround and shop 

front remain complete should be repaired and conserved wherever possible. In listed 

buildings these repairs must preserve the character of the original shop front and be of 

matching style, materials and construction, whilst delivering a contemporary standard of 

amenity that meets current access standards. 

7.0.37 Many pedestrians, particularly those with visual impairments, use the building line as a 

navigational aid. That line should wherever possible be retained as a continuous and 

unimpeded route. Where interruption is unavoidable (for example where tables and/or 

seating is put out in the street environment) the area should be clearly identified, enabling 

users to move around the intrusion safely and with confidence. 

7.0.38 Poorly sited or badly designed shop signs, including projecting signs, and illumination can 

have a detrimental effect on the character and appearance of areas and may raise issues 

of public safety. 

7.0.39 The council will pay due regard to the Islington Shopfront Design Guide when assessing 

proposals concerning shop fronts and shop signs. 

7.0.40 Retail development schemes should produce shopfront design details as part of the 

planning application. 

Policy DM 42 

Markets 

A. The council will seek to maintain, and support the enhancement of, existing traditional 

street markets within the borough. 

7.0.41 There are three well established street markets in Islington: Chapel Market, Exmouth 

Market and Whitecross Street. Markets are very popular with shoppers and visitors because 

of their vibrancy, range and variety of goods they offer, often at competitive prices. Markets 

add to the character of local areas. However, if markets are poorly designed and managed 

they can cause harm to surrounding areas in terms of congestion of local roads, rubbish 

and refuse, storage and noise. The council wishes to see all the traditional markets continue 

and thrive. 

7.0.42 The council will encourage a co-ordinated approach to development and management of 

street markets in matters such as deployment of signage, pavement furniture and other 

market infrastructure. 

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Policy DM 43 

Public Houses 

A. The council supports the retention of public houses and will oppose their conversion or 

redevelopment. 

B. Changes of use from a public house (A4) use will not be permitted where the premises 

contribute to the liveliness and vitalityof the street scene, where they provide a service of 

particular local value, or where a consequence would be the loss of important historic features. 

C. Change of use from a public house (A4) will be considered where: 

i) The public house has been vacant for a period of 2 years or more; and 

ii) Marketing evidence can be provided for a 2 year period to demonstrate there is no realistic 

prospect of the unit being used for A4 purposes in the foreseeable future; or 

iii) 

The public house use is inappropriate in terms of neighbourliness or access. 

7.0.43 Public houses contribute to the historic character and community function of a place. 

7.0.44 Over recent years there has been a steady decline in the provision of public houses, 

particularly through conversion to residential use in areas outside town centres and local 

shopping parades. 

Policy DM 44 

Hotels 

A. Appropriate locations for hotels and other visitor accommodation are within town centres. 

B. Proposals for new hotel and visitor accommodation will only be supported where they: 

i) are located in close proximity to train and/or underground services; 

ii) 

provide necessary pick-up and set down points for taxis and coaches; 

iii) are inclusive, providing at least 10% of all hotel rooms to wheelchair accessible standards. 

The 10% wheelchair accessible standard rooms must be fully fitted from the outset. 

iv) do not result in adverse impacts on residential amenity, including cumulative impacts 

resulting from a concentration of hotel uses in one particular area. 


95


C. Outside town centres, the council will resist proposals for hotels and other visitor 

accommodation. 

D. Applications for major hotel developments will be accompanied by information 

demonstrating: 

i) how impacts on residential amenity will be avoided; and 

ii) arrangements for securing public access to ancillary facilities (e.g. restaurants, conference 

facilities and gyms). 

7.0.45 Given the favourable position of Islington relative to Central London, the borough has the 

potential to increase its share of the capital's supply of hotels in the plan period. However, 

while hotels can create jobs and support the visitor economy, it is important to ensure that 

other planning objectives are met: in particular, securing a balance of supporting uses, 

and maximising residential amenity. In addition, hotels can have specific traffic impacts 

that are required to be taken into account. 

7.0.46 Town centres are identified as a key location for the provision of new hotels in Islington. 

Currently, the majority of Islington's supply is located in areas close to central London, but 

there are particular opportunities for new hotels in town centre locations where major 

regeneration activities or infrastructure improvements are planned and/or where there is 

significant potential for mixed use development. However, within all of these areas it is 

important to ensure that an appropriate level of hotel uses are provided, in order to avoid 

impacts on residential amenity, and to ensure that hotel uses support the range of retail 

and services that exist in town centre locations. 

Policy DM 45 

Islington's Cultural, Community and Social Uses 

A. The council will protect existing community and social facilities by resisting their loss 

unless: 

i) an inclusive replacement facility can be provided which meets the needs of the local 

population; 

ii) the specific community or social facility is no longer required in its current use. Where 

this is the case, robust evidence will be required (e.g. Equalities Impact Assessment) to show 

that the loss would not create or increase a shortfall in provision of the specific community 

use, and demonstrate that there is no demand for any other suitable community use in its 

place. 

B. The council will consider the provision of new cultural and community uses in appropriate 

locations. 

96 



C . 

New community uses must be: 

i) located to be convenient and accessible to the community they serve; 

ii) 

accessible by a range of transport modes, including walking, cycling and public transport; 

iii) provided in buildings which are inclusive, accessible, flexible and sited to maximise shared 

use of the facility. 

D. To meet identified demand for any new facilities the council will require: 

i) developments which result in any additional need for community facilities to contribute 

towards enhancing existing facilities, or providing, or contributing towards new more inclusive 

facilities; and 

ii) suitable developments to make accessible room(s) available to local community groups 

to use or hire at a discounted rate, particularly where development displaces a community 

facility. 

E. The provision of theatres and cinemas in Islington is supported. The loss and change of 

use of theatres and cinemas and former theatres and cinemas to other uses will be resisted. 

7.0.47 Community and social uses include a range of different types of premises ranging from 

community halls to leisure centres (see glossary). 

7.0.48 Venues for meetings, social and cultural activities are important for people's quality of life 

as they provide space for people to meet and socialise. These venues are under pressure 

from higher land value uses, such as housing. 

7.0.49 Culture, Leisure and Arts are important both to the economy and community well being 

of people who live and work in the borough. Culture and Leisure activities should continue 

to be encouraged and cultivated both of the local role and contributing factor to London 

as a world city, and for its economic and social impact on quality of life. A key issue of 

Islington’s Core Strategy is building on the strengths of the borough as a cultural and arts 

destination. 

7.0.50 There are a number of theatres in Islington, the most famous theatre is Sadler's Wells, 

now established as an excellent performance venue for dance of all kinds. Although small 

(300 seats) the Almeida Theatre has developed a world, as well as national, reputation 

for quality theatre. There is also a large number of pub venues providing a range of 

performance, from new plays and dance, to live music and comedy. 

7.0.51 Planning permission which involves the loss of community and cultural uses, such as 

community halls and other public meeting venues, theatres, cinemas will only be granted 

where the applicant can demonstrate no need exists for the use, or its loss was necessary 

to achieve other planning objectives, and appropriate compensation provided. 


97


7.0.52 The council’s cultural strategy encourages the use of culture to celebrate diversity and 

improve quality of life. 

98 


8 Healthy Living 


99



8.0.1 The Core Strategy aims to create a healthier and greener borough by protecting existing 

open spaces and habitats, and encouraging the creation of new ones. Such spaces are 

important sites for recreation, relaxation and exercise, and have an important ecological 

and environmental function. Development should create a healthy environment and not 

contribute to negative health outcomes. The provision of play space, and sport and 

recreation provision, is also important to support a healthy population alongside health 

care provision. This section contains policies to support and implement Core Strategy 

policies in these areas. 



Policy 15 Open Space and Green Infrastructure, Policy 16 Play Space, Policy 17 Sport and 

Recreation Provision, Policy IMP 2 Health Impact Assessments 

8.0.2 Islington is one of the most deprived London boroughs and life expectancy is below the 

national average for both men and women. There are notable inequalities in life expectancy 

within Islington, depending on levels of deprivation. Poor health is widespread in the 

borough and there are higher than average levels of coronary heart disease, cancer, 

diabetes, mental health problems, drug misuse, teenage pregnancy and smoking. 

8.0.3 NHS Islington’s Commissioning Strategy Plan 2008-13 identifies preventing obesity as a 

priority for Islington because weight and obesity has a major impact on health, increasing 

the chances of developing diabetes, cancer, and heart and liver disease, and often resulting 

in low self-esteem and poorer quality of life. 

Policy DM 46 

Healthy Development 

A. Developments are required to provide healthy environments, reduce environmental 

stresses, facilitate physical activity and promote mental well-being. Development that contributes 

to negative health outcomes will be refused. 

B. The council will support the provision of new and improved health facilities and their 

co-location with other community uses, subject to an assessment of the full range of planning 

considerations. 

C. Major developments are required to mitigate health impacts identified in the submitted 

Health Impact Assessment, through planning obligations. 

100 



D. Publicly accessible major developments and open spaces are required to provide and 

manage publicly accessible toilets and drinking water fountains. 

8.0.4 Development can improve people's health in Islington by facilitating and encouraging 

healthy lifestyles, reducing environmental stresses, and promoting mental well-being. For 

example, new development can improve healthy eating by increasing the availability and 

access to healthy foods and increase participation in physical activity by improving the 

built environment and green space, thereby increasing access to facilities. Conversely 

development can have negative health impacts, for example, by discouraging walking and 

cycling, increasing the supply of unhealthy foods, increasing air pollution and noise, and 

reducing visual and physical access to green spaces. (3) 

8.0.5 A lack of toilet facilities at the right time in the right place contributes to dirty streets that 

are unsanitary, unpleasant and can spread infection. Public toilets in places like parks 

and promenades help to encourage people who may need regular toilet access to take 

exercise and stay physically active. Public access to toilets is important for local shops 

and businesses too and being able to access a toilet is a fundamental need of any visitor 

to an area. (4) Publicly accessible major developments such as shops are expected to 

provide and manage publicly accessible toilets. Smaller publicly accessible developments 

are encouraged to provide publicly accessible toilets where possible. 

8.0.6 Access to clean water is essential for our wellbeing and health. Clean water is easily 

available in homes, but in public places and buildings such as shops it can be difficult to 

find freely accessible drinking water. Bottled water is expensive and uses environmental 

resources. Although tap water may be available in places such as cafés and pubs these 

are not accessible to everyone. Lack of free drinking water in parks and places where 

children play can encourage them to consume high calorie soft drinks which are linked to 

childhood obesity and tooth decay (5) . Ensuring there is a good supply of public drinking 

water fountains in Islington will improve public health and is more environmentally and 

socially sustainable that buying bottled water. 

3 Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population 

study. Mitchell, R. and Popham, F. The Lancet - 8 November 2008 (Vol. 372, Issue 9650, 

Pages 1655 - 1660) 

4 Improving Public Access to Better Quality Toilets, A Strategic Guide. DCLG, 2008 

5 Thirsty play: A survey of drinking water provision in public parks. The Children's Food 

Campaign, May 2010 


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Policy DM 47 

Protecting existing open space 

A. All open spaces are protected: no development is permitted on this land. Should the 

council accept, in exceptional circumstances, development of this land, high quality re-provision 

will be required, to serve existing users of the space and any uplift in users associated with 

the development and to provide equal open space, habitat area and value, and functionality 

of the space. 

B. Development proposals within the vicinity of open space are required to be designed to 

ensure there are no negative impacts on amenity, ecological value and functionality of the 

space. The council will only permit developments that would have a negative impact on public 

spaces where full mitigation is provided. 

C. All habitats, including Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and other 

habitats covered by regional and local Biodiversity Action Plans are protected: no development 

is permitted on this land. Should the council accept exceptional circumstances in relation to 

development of this land, high quality re-provision will be required, which shall provide equal 

habitat area and value. 

D. 

i) The council will protect semi-private amenity spaces, including open space within housing 

estates, and other similar spaces in the borough not designated as open space. Development 

of these spaces will not be permitted unless full reprovision is provided. 

ii) The council will encourage greater public use of suitable semi-private amenity spaces, 

including use as public open space, play space, wildlife habitat and for local food growing, 

provided the space remains substantially undeveloped and open, and provided that accessibility 

to the public is maintained or improved. Privacy and other amenity issues, including in relation 

to existing residents within the vicinity of the space, shall be a key consideration in assessing 

the suitability of semi-private amenity spaces for greater public use. 

8.0.7 Map 8.1 identifies open spaces, which consist of soft and hard landscaped areas. Soft 

landscaped areas include public parks. Hard landscaped areas include civic spaces and 

other hard landscaping within the public realm. Map 8.2 identifies Sites of Importance for 

Nature Conservation. Map 8.2 is taken from the Core Strategy, but an up-dated version 

will be produced for later stages of this Development Management Policies document. 

These sites will be identified on the Proposals Map. This is not an exhaustive record with 

regards to policy DM 47. These maps may be up-dated during the plan-period to 

incorporate new or altered spaces and habitats. These maps do not identify Metropolitan 

Open Land, which is protected by higher tier policy. 

102 



Map 8.1 Open spaces 


103


Map 8.2 Biodiversity habitats 

104 



Policy DM 48 

New open space 

A. Major developments are required to provide on-site open space in accordance with the 

space standards detailed within the Planning Obligations (S106) SPD (2009), or any subsequent 

amendment, addition or replacement to this SPD. This shall be provided in addition to private 

amenity space and landscaping and shall be fully publicly-accessible without any restrictions. 

B. In exceptional circumstances, where it is clearly demonstrated that open space cannot be 

provided on site, or that the required amount cannot be provided on site in full, a financial 

contribution shall be paid to the council towards the provision of new open space or 

enhancements to existing spaces. This contribution shall be in accordance with the standards 

detailed within the Planning Obligations SPD and any amendment to and / or replacement of 

this document. 

C. Biodiversity benefits are required to be maximised as part of any open space provision. 

New or improved open space is required to incorporate areas of wildlife habitat complementing 

surrounding habitats and supporting the council's Biodiversity Action Plan. In addition, species 

chosen for planting across the space are required to maximise biodiversity benefit. Open 

spaces within the functional vicinity of a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) 

are required to be planted with native species and local provenance species and are required 

to complement the species composition in the SINC. 

D. Open space should normally be green open space, such as a public park. Areas of new 

and / or improved hard-landscaped open space, such as civic space, may be considered 

appropriate instead of green open space, particularly in town centres. 

8.0.8 The Planning Obligations SPD requires 5.21m 2 of public open space per resident, including 

students, and 2.6m 2 of public open space per employee or hotel occupant. 

8.0.9 Where a financial contribution is applicable, the SPD currently requires a contribution of 

£163 per m 2 of required open space (in accordance with the above space standards). 

Contributions referred to within the SPD shall be index-linked from July 2009 using a 

mutually agreed index, unless the SPD is amended, added to or replaced, in which case 

indexation shall commence from the date of adoption of any new figures. In addition, 

indexation shall apply to the agreed financial contribution and reasonable legal fees shall 

be paid. 


105


Policy DM 49 

Play space 

A. All major residential developments are required to make provision for play, based on 

anticipated child yield. Provision shall be 10m 2 of play space per child. 

B. Play space is required to be provided on site, except where the level of play space required 

would, in combination with the specifics of the development site, result in play space of poor 

functionality and utility. In such cases, a financial contribution to the council will be required, 

which shall be used for improvements to play provision or for the creation of new play space, 

within the vicinity of the development. This financial contribution is defined in the Council's 

Planning Obligations SPD; any additions, alterations or replacements to this document shall 

also apply to this policy, and any changes to national arrangements for planning obligations. 

C. All proposed provision of new play space within development sites is required to be 

designed in partnership with the London Borough of Islington, to best practice standards. A 

detailed landscape plan is required to be submitted with all major residential planning 

applications, which shall include a detailed design for play provision. The design of play 

provision is required to be inclusive, in accordance with the Council's Inclusive Landscape 

Design SPD. Play provision is required to encourage an element of positive risk taking and 

to incorporate provision for natural play, which may be provided in formal play space, informal 

play space, and throughout the landscaping and open spaces of developments. 

D. All major residential developments in which play space is to be provided on site, are 

required to be accompanied by a Play Space Management and Maintenance Plan. This plan 

shall be adhered to as agreed and conditioned by the council. 

8.0.10 Child yield is calculated based on the formulae set out within the Council's Planning 

Obligations SPD. The formulae in this SPD, or any additions, alteration or replacements 

to this document, apply to this policy. 

8.0.11 Of the required 10m 2 of play space per child at least 5m 2 should be formal play space; 

informal play space should also be provided, and incorporated effectively within landscaping 

or open space provision. 

8.0.12 The council shall assess whether the required amount of play space can be usefully 

accommodated on site, or whether a financial payment to the council would be appropriate. 

This will be dependant on the site characteristics and the design of the development. The 

landscaping of the development, including play space, should be considered in a holistic 

manner, so that a workable play space arrangement can be accommodated on-site 

wherever possible. The main circumstances in which a financial contribution is likely to 

be appropriate will be where the required level of play space is very small, in which case 

an assessment will be made as to whether useful provision can be made on site. 

106 



8.0.13 Play spaces should be inclusive, well designed, stimulating, accessible and consider the 

wider environment. 

Policy DM 50 

Sport and recreation 

A. The council will encourage opportunities for developments which provide new sport and 

recreation facilities, particularly where there is an expressed demand. Major developments 

are required to contribute towards investment in sport and recreation facilities, in accordance 

with the council's Planning Obligations SPD; any additions, alterations or replacements to this 

document shall also apply to this policy, and any changes to national arrangements for planning 

obligations. 

B. Developments that provide private sports and recreation facilities will be required to enter 

into a community-use agreement to promote and allow access by local communities. 

C. Developments that would detrimentally affect existing sport and recreation facilities will be 

refused planning permission unless the level and range of existing provision is maintained or 

re-provided at or above existing levels, including provision for any population uplift associated 

with the development. 

8.0.14 Sport and recreation facilities within Islington are important assets for public health and 

enjoyment, and for engendering a sense of community. The council will work to retain the 

existing level of facilities per person and increase provision where possible. 

8.0.15 Community use agreements shall allow for access by the community for at least 20% of 

the time, to the full range of facilities on offer, for a range of peak and off-peak times, at 

a reduced cost. Details shall be negotiated with the council. Financial viability will be 

taken into account. 


107

9 Infrastructure and Implementation 


108



9.0.1 Ensuring there is sufficient infrastructure to support a development is vital to achieve 

sustainable development and enable Islington and London to function and be a good place 

to live. 

9.0.2 Infrastructure provision refers to a wide range of infrastructure, including in relation to: 

transport and public realm, open space, sport, leisure and recreation, community, play 

space, education,health, utilities, emergency services, and climate change adaptation and 

mitigation. This list is for illustrative purposes and is by no means exhaustive. 

Policy DM 51 

Infrastructure 

A. To ensure development is sustainable permission will only be granted to development 

that clearly demonstrates there will be sufficient infrastructure of all types to support it. 

B. The council will identify the requirements for infrastructure through the infrastructure 

delivery plan, community infrastructure levy or other similar mechanisms and Supplementary 

Planning Documents such as the Planning Obligations (S106) SPD (2009). The Site Specific 

Allocations document details known infrastructure requirements for specific sites. 

C. Other infrastructure may be required that is not covered by the council's obligations, 

charges or plans. It is the responsibility of the applicant/developer to identify what other 

infrastructure is required and ensure its timely provision. 

9.0.3 Applicants can ensure they have identified what infrastructure is required by early liaison 

with the council and other infrastructure providers. Applicants should consulting with all 

relevant utilities providers (and the TfL London Underground Infrastructure Protection 

team where relevant). Applicants should ensure there is adequate water and waste water 

supply capacity both on and off the site to serve the development, and ensure that the 

development will not lead to problems for existing or new users. It may be necessary for 

developers to fund studies to ascertain whether the proposed development will lead to 

overloading of existing infrastructure. 

Policy DM 52 

Planning Obligations 

A. 


109


(i) Planning obligations will be used by the council to deliver sustainable development. This 

will include compensation for loss or damage associated with a development, mitigation of 

the impacts of a development, prescription of the nature of a development, and other measures 

to make a development acceptable in planning terms, where possible and appropriate. 

(ii) Planning obligations will be used by the council to deliver infrastructure provision required 

in full or in part in association with development proposals, to control the mix of uses within a 

development, including affordable housing, and to manage the impact and operation of 

developments. 

B. Planning obligations will be secured by a legal agreement or other relevant mechanism, 

and will provide for payments of money where necessary and appropriate. Planning obligations 

will be based upon the provisions of the council's Planning Obligations (S106) SPD (2009) or 

any subsequent amendment, addition or replacement to this SPD. 

9.0.4 Managing the impact and operation of developments may involve management plans, 

restrictions of uses and hours of operation, Travel Plans, construction management plans, 

and monitoring of such plans. 

9.0.5 Compensating for the impact of a development may include provision for highways 

reinstatement and other damage reinstatement and reprovision of assets lost through the 

development. 

9.0.6 Planning obligations may be used to achieve compliance with relevant planning policies, 

for example the Core Strategy car-free policy and policies on employment and training 

initiatives and affordable workspace. 

9.0.7 The use of planning obligations will be consistent with the tests of the Community 

Infrastructure Regulation 2010. 

9.0.8 Any financial payments may be based on formulae and standard charges, and will be 

index-linked. Reasonable legal fees shall be payable. 

9.0.9 Planning obligations may be used for strategic infrastructure provision, using pooled 

contributions under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or through 

another relevant mechanism, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). 

9.0.10 Should the Council adopt a Community Infrastructure Levy, this will become the main 

source of developer contributions for infrastructure to support the development of the 

area. S106 agreements will be used to secure planning obligations to address other issues 

that are not covered by CIL. 

110 


10 Monitoring 


111

10 Monitoring 

10 Monitoring 

10.0.1 Future monitoring of the plan policies is required to enable an understanding of the extent 

to which the Development Management Policies delivers what is intended over the lifetime 

of the plan. The monitoring schedule, below sets out indicators for monitoring the 

effectiveness of policies, including performance against associated targets, contained in 

the plan. The indicators have been devised to assess whether or not policy outcome is 

being achieved and to inform any future review of policy. As well as monitoring the outcome 

of individual policies, e.g. on employment, the council will assess progress against the 

indicators holistically to determine whether the policies are proving effective in promoting 

an integrated approach to sustainable development. 

10.0.2 Monitoring performance against the indicators will occur in the Annual Monitoring Report 

(AMR), the production of which is a key requirement for local authorities. 

10.0.3 The table below sets out the different indicators that the council will use to monitor the 

effectiveness of the different Development Management policies in delivering the strategic 

objectives. 

Monitoring Indicators 

Development Management 

policy 

Policy DM 1 

Policy DM 2 etc 

Indicator 

This table will be completed for the proposed submissions 

draft of Development Management Policies 

112 


1 Appendix: Local Views 


113



1.0.1 The current local views 1 to 7 are all towards St. Paul's Cathedral and 8 is towards St. 

Pancras: 

1. LV1 View from Farringdon Lane/ Farringdon Road / Clerkenwell Road 

2. LV2 View from St. John Street 

3. LV3 View from the Angel 

4. LV4 View from Archway Road 

5. LV5 View from Archway Bridge 

6. LV6 View from Amwell Street 

7. LV7 View from Dartmouth Park Hill 

8. LV8 View from Pentonville Road 

1.0.2 The tables below give the details of the current local views. * Where height or length of 

view varies, the lowest height and the shortest length is given, as these are the most critical 

factors. All dimensions are in metres. 

View 

Grid references describing 

boundary of viewing Area(s) 

Height 

above 

AOD* 

St. Paul’s 

Co-ordinates 

Height 

above 

AOD 

Length 

of View* 

LV1 

531480 / 182062 (VP) 

14.9 

531957 / 181080 

52.1 

1080 

531449 / 182131 

532150 / 181203 

531491 / 182153 

531373 / 182153 

531297 / 182235 

531343 / 182165 

531410 / 182074 

531434 / 182031 (VP) 

VP = start of viewing plane 

LV2 

531710 / 182280 

18.0 

532140 / 181167 

52.1 

1050 

531733 / 182246 

531953 / 181113 

531799 / 182028 

114 



531801 / 181945 

531747 / 182163 

LV3 

531441 / 183174 

33.4 

532083 / 181151 

52.1 

2110 

532025 / 181134 

LV4 

529280 / 187090 

67.0 

532244 / 181206 

52.1 

6590 

529130 / 187390 

531865 / 181079 

529290 / 187150 

LV5 

529090 / 187360 

100.3 

532234 / 181230 

52.1 

6930 

529130 / 187390 

531875 / 181055 

LV6 

531172 / 182815 

32.0 

532003 / 181123 

52.1 

1900 

531195 / 182745 

532142 / 181279 

LV7 

528970 / 186235 

65.5 

531955 / 181111 

52.1 

6000 

532115 / 181173 

LV8 

Development will not be permitted which further obstructs the view from the viewing 

point on the north pavement of Pentonville Road at its junction with Penton Street, 

to St. Pancras Station and Hotel (Chambers) Buildings. 

1.0.3 The views from Farringdon, St. John Street and Amwell Street of St. Paul's Cathedral form 

part of the original views protected in the 1930s by the City of London's St. Paul's Heights. 

Islington has maintained these original views and added to them over time. Protection 

across the whole of the local view needs to be maintained, requiring policy coordination 

between the City of London and Islington. It should be noted that there is a slight difference 

in height between the view the City protects and that Islington's policy protects for LV1 

and LV2. The height difference is to enable greater control of the development in the 

foreground of these views, allowing a larger viewing area and enhancing the appreciation 

of this important and attractive landmark. 

1.0.4 The only local view which has changed from Islington's 2002 UDP local views is LV1. See 

figure 1.1 below for a plan view of the new and old LV1. 


115


Explanation of new LV1 (Local View 1) 

1.0.5 The new LV1 view consolidates the views policies of the City of London and Islington to 

establish a strong local view safeguarding the special heritage of Farringdon: the Fleet 

Valley and the views to St. Paul’s Cathedral from this space. 

1.0.6 LV1 provides an opportunity for views of St Paul’s Cathedral from a large space and can 

therefore not be considered in terms of view points but as a viewing area. 

1.0.7 The view aligns with the western extent of St. Paul’s Heights and centres on St. Paul’s 

Cathedral with a width that mirrors its western extent to the east. The height over the 

Ordnance Survey Datum at St. Paul’s Cathedral is proposed to be fixed at 52.1m which 

is the base of the drum and the height other protected views are defined by. 

1.0.8 At the other end, the view is defined by a line parallel to the line established by the cathedral 

and set out from the corner of Turnmill Street and Clerkenwell Road bridge at a height 

that ensures clear views from this public thoroughfare and from within the Fleet Valley 

north of this. 

1.0.9 The height of this line is fixed at 14.9m above the Ordnance Survey Datum which is the 

height at which the cathedral is visible if one is seated in this public space. The protected 

view area continues north along Farringdon Lane and Farringdon Road to a point at the 

junction of Farringdon Road and Bowling Green Lane, to protect this part of the valley 

space. 

116 



Figure 1.1 New and Old Local View 1 (LV1) 


117

2 Appendix: Primary & Secondary Retail Frontages 


118



2.0.1 The table below gives the primary and secondary frontages for each of the four town 

centres (shown in Section 7 on Maps 7.1 - 7.4) 

Angel - Primary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 

Street Numbers 

Street Name 

Map 7.1 

Angel 

27-43 (odd), 17-49 (odd), 

Upper Street 

1-16 (all), 359 (former 

Antiques market) 

31-41 (odd) 

Liverpool Road 

Ground Floor units 

N1 Centre 

7-27 (odd), 2-10 (even), 

Camden Passage 

12-28 (even), 29-53 (odd) 

1-9 (odd), 19-31 (odd), 

96-120 (even) 

Islington High Street 

2 

Camden Walk 

Angel - Secondary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

Map 7.1 

Angel 

40-52 (even), 59-71 (odd), 

Cross Street 

54-62 (even) 

48-68 (even), 108-144a 

(even) 

Essex Road 

394-428 (even) 

St. John Street 

18-29 (all) 

Arlington Road 

1-2 

1&2 Chadwell Street 

391-393 (odd) 

St. John Street 


119


Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

1-25 (odd), 334-341 (all), 

342-352 (even), 353-357 

(odd) 

Upper Street 

32-36 (even) 

1 

Camden Walk 

39 

Islington Green 

3-25 (odd), 68-76 (even), 

77-93 (odd) 

Chapel Market 

Nag's Head - Primary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

Map 7.2 

Nag's Head 

1-15 (odd), 2-20 (even), 7-29 

(odd) 

Seven Sisters Road 

338-370 (even), 

Holloway Road 

372-456 (even) 

Nag's Head - Secondary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

Map 7.2 

Nag's Head 

17-29 (odd), 31-45 (odd), 47-65 

(odd), 85-93 (odd) 


280-336 (even), 341-401 (odd) 

Holloway Road 

403-417 (odd), 458-504 (even) 

67-83 (odd), market - 32 (even), 


34-124 (even) 

120 



Archway - Primary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

Map 7.3 

Archway 

4-10, 14-34, 36-50 (even), 

Junction Road 

1-35 (odd) 

798-804 (even), 681-696 (all) 

Holloway Road 

Archway - Secondary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 

Street NumArbers 

Street Name 

Map 7.3 

Archway 

2-12 (even) 

Archway Road 

2-10 (UCL Whittington 

campus) 

Highgate Hill 

37- 89 (odd) 

Junction Road 

679-687 (odd), 780-794 

(even), 

Holloway Road 

647-665 (odd), 619 - 645 

(odd), 

734-760 (even), 768-778 

(even) 

Finsbury Park - Primary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

Map 7.4 

Finsbury Park 

113-149 (odd), 114-164 

(even), 

89-111 (odd), 84-112 (even) 

Fonthill Road 

117-161 (odd), 103-115 (odd) 

Stroud Green Road 

21-85 (odd), 9-15 (odd), 

1-11 (odd) 


121


Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

10-66 (even), 2a-8 (even), 

Blackstock Road 

128-146 (even), 146-156, 

156a (even) 

284, 253-261 (odd) 


113 

Wells Terrace 

Finsbury Park - Secondary Frontages 

Map ref: 

Town Centre 


Street Name 

Map 7.4 

Finsbury Park 

163-181 (odd) 

Stroud Green Road 

221-233 (odd), 203-209 

(odd), 


190 - 238 (even), 187-201 

(odd) 

2-10 (even) 

Wells Terrace 

1 

Clifton Terrace 

122 


3 Appendix: Local Shopping Parades 


123



3.0.1 The local shopping parades in the borough are shown in the following map and schedule. 

The town centres are also shown for ease of reference. 

124 



Map 3.1 Local Shopping Parades 


125


Map 

ref: 

Shopping Area Name 

Street numbers 

Street Name 

1 

Hillrise 

65-87 (odd) 

Hazelville Road 

2 

Whitehall Park 

50-56 (even) 

Cressida Road 

38-42 (even), 44, 83-89 

(odd) 

Cheverton Road 

85, 87, 88-92 (all 

numbers), 89, 94-96 

(even), 98 

Dresden Road 

109-110 

Harberton Road 

63, 82 

Gladsmuir Road 

5 - 9 (odd), 11, 13-17 

(odd), 21, 23-29 (odd), 

31-35 (odd) 

Archway Road 

37 - 39 (odd), 46, St 

Andrew's Day Centre (48) 

Despard Road 

1,2, Whitehall Mansions 

Lidyard Road 

1, 2 

Waterlow Road 

4 

Highgate Hill 

1 

Gordon Close 

22-30 (even), 32-36 

(even), 83-91 (odd) 

Highgate Hill 

5 

Archway Town Centre 

N/A 

6 

Junction Road 

1 

Cathcart Hill 

1, 16 

Francis Terrace 

1, 3 

Hargrave Park 

82-86 (even), 93, 95-97 

(all), 99, 101, 103-123 (all), 

124-131 (all), 133-173 

(odd) 

Junction Road 

126 



Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

1-5 (all) 

Linden Walk 

1 

Monnery Road 

1-4 (all) 

Poynings Road 

35 

St John's Grove 

1-5 (all) 

Tremlet Walk 

7 

Campdale 

1-10 (all) 

Campdale Road 

1, 2, 6 

Mercers Mews 

156-160 (even) 

Tufnell Park Road 

8 

Tufnell Park 

2, 6, 8, 10-36 (even) 

Brecknock Road 

229-233 (odd), 284-288 

(even) 

Camden Road 

9, 16 

Rowstock Gardens 

386-398 (even), 406 

York Way 

9 

Cottage Road 

1-11 (odd), 6, 8 

Balmoral Grove 

2-6 (even) 

Blundell Street 

1,2-6 (even), 10 

Brewery Road 

412-416 (even), 419-427 

(all), 429-436 (all), 

438-452 (even), 453-469 

(all), 472-476 (even) 

Caledonian Road 

2, 3 

Cottage Road 

2-28 (even) 

Lockhart Close 

1-15 (odd), 2-6 (even) 

Mackenzie Road 

1, 6-10 

Market Road 

3, 7, 8 

Piper Close 

88-92 

Roman Way 


127


Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

1-7 (all) 

Sophia Close 

1-3 (all), Angle Cottage 

The Drive 

170-174 (even) 

Watkinson Road 

10 


2 

Bingfield Street 

107,118 

Bridgeman Road 

237-269 (odd), 270-304 

(all), 306-335 (all), 

337-352 (all), 354-380 

(all), 382-386 (even), 

390-406 (even) 


69-79 

Centurion Close 

3 

Freeling Street 

33, 34 

Huntingdon Street 

1 

Kember Street 

1, 39 

Lyon Street 

1, 3-12 (all), 14, 16 

Offord Road 

1, 3 

Richmond Avenue 

15 

Stanmore Street 

1, 2 

Tilloch Street 

1 

Wheelwright Street 

11 

Copenhagen Street 

143-145, 157-193 (odd), 

168-212 (even) 


16, 18 

Carnegie Street 

149-153 (odd) 

Copenhagen Street 

1-4 (all) 

Edward Square 

12 

King's Cross 

The Ironworks 

Albion Walk 

128 



Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

2-8, 5-7, 9 

Balfe Street 

1-6 (all) 

Bravingtons Walk 

8 


1-7 (odd), 2-6 (even) 7-19 

(all), 20-24 (all), 26-46 

(even), 35-47 (odd), 48-53 

(all), 54-58 (even) 55-63 

(odd), 64-87 (all), 88-94 

(even) 89-97 (odd), 96-104 

(even) 


3, 11, 15, 17 

Crinan Street 

1-15 (all) 

Joiners Yard 

1, 2, 15-24 

Keystone Crescent 

Theatre 

Noah's Yard 

42-48 (even), 51-57 (odd) 

Northdown Street 

1,2 

Omega Place 

266-300 (even) 

Pentonville Road 

9 

Railway Street 

1, 2, 3 

Varnishers Yard 

Wharfdale Yard, 2-8 

(even), 16, 18, 24-32, 

34-58, 60, 64-68, 70-78 

Wharfdale Road 

50-60, 67 

York Way 

13 

Amwell Street 

27-29, 31-65 (all), 66-76 

(even) 

Amwell Street 

24-26 (all) 

Lloyd Baker Street 

25 

River Street 

14 

Exmouth Market 

11-69, 4-22, 28-70 

Exmouth Market 


129


Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

15 

Whitecross Street Market 

59, 61, 65 

Banner Street 

1-6 (all), shopping centre, 

market 

Cherry Tree Walk 

4 

Errol Street 

17, 18 

Fortune Street 

4 - 8 

Helmet Row 

90-98 (even) 

Old Street 

1, 15-17 (all) 

Roscoe Street 

1, 6, 13 

Shrewsbury Court 

1 

Warwick Yard 

90, 103-127 (odd), 

122-126 (even), 128-130 

(all), 131-137 (odd), 

132-136 (even), 137, 139, 

141-157 (all), 159-169 

(odd), 164-168 (even), 

173-187 (odd), 191-209 

(odd) 

Whitecross Street 

16 

Angel Town Centre 

N/A 

17 

Upper Street 

3, 5 

Barnsbury Street 

15-25 (odd) 

Canonbury Lane 

9 

Coopers Yard 

1, 2 

Hampton Court 

5 

Highbury Corner 

56, 59-63 (even) 

Islington Park Street 

4, 5 

Laycock Street 

12 - 27 (all) 

Swan Yard 

130 



Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

1-5 (odd), 2 

Terrett's Place 

1 

Tyndale Terrace 

140-154 (even), 141, 153, 

169, 171, 170-178 (even), 

175-193 (odd), 182-196 

(even), 197-207 (odd), 

211-215 (odd), 200-204 

(even), 208 -218 (even), 

209, 219, 222, 235-273 

(odd), 236-270 (even), 

279-287 (odd), 279-287 

(odd), 278-286 (even) 

Upper Street 

18 

St. Pauls 

1-14 (all) 

Assata Mews 

1, 2 

Corsica Street 

210-246 (even), 250-278 

(even), 282-322 (even) 

St Paul's Road 

19 

Lower Holloway 

2 

Digswell Street 

1 

Furlong Road 

1, 3, 2-8 (even) 

Georges Road 

1, 2-6 (even), 12, 16-18 

(all), 21, 24, 23-27 (odd), 

28 - 32 (even) 

Highbury Corner 

2-4 (all) 

Highbury Crescent 

2, 54-66 (even), 31-35 

(odd), 67-211 (odd), 74-96 

(even), 102, 118-144 

(even), 146-164 (even), 

213-241 (odd), 222-234 

(even), 249, 251, 255, 257, 

263-275, Victoria 

Mansions 

Holloway Road 

2 

Hornsey Road 


131


Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

20 

Nag's Head 

N/A 

21 

Upper Holloway 

467, 471, 477-505 (odd), 

507-533 (odd), 537-563 

(odd), 580, 589-599 (odd), 

592-606 (even), 610-626 

(even), 630-648 (even), 

652-686 (even), 692-708 

(even) 

Holloway Road 

3 

Manor Gardens 

22 

Hornsey Rise 

1 

Lambton Road 

471-497 (odd), 499-513 

(odd), 504-510 (even), 

512-534 (even) 

Hornsey Road 

23 

Hornsey/Thorpedale 

1, 2A 

Grenville Road 

1-7 (all), 9, 11 

Hanley Road 

421, 423, 427, 435-443 

(odd), 465-468 (all), 

470-476 (even), 480-502 

(even) 

Hornsey Road 

165, 167, 170, 172, 180, 

182 

Marlborough Road 

1-11 (all) 

Vincent Parade 

24 

Tollington 

283-289 (odd), 297, 

318-352 (even) 

Hornsey Road 

2-6 (even) 

Tollington Park 

127, 129 

Tollington Way 

25 

Crouch Hill 

1-37 (all), 41, 43 

Crouch Hill 

121-125 (odd) 

Hanley Road 

1A, 2A 

Japan Crescent 

132 



Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

4, 6 

Mount Pleasant Mews 

26 

Stroud Green 

144-164 (even) 

Tollington Park 

27 


(central) 

52, 63 

1 

Berriman Road 

Medina Road 

97-129 (odd), 128-162 

(even), 170-188 (even) 


28 

Highbury Barn 

2 

Hamilton Lane 

3-13 (odd) 

Hamilton Park 

1-37 (all) , 39-61 (odd) 

Highbury Park 

61-71 (odd) 

Kelross Road 

29 

Newington Green 

2-10 (even) 

Ferntower Road 

3-31 (odd) 

Green Lanes 

43-61 (all) 

Newington Green 

79-87 (odd), 89-129 (all) 

131-141 (odd) 

Newington Green Road 

73 

Poets Road 

30 

Ball's Pond Road 

24-154 (even) 

Ball's Pond Road 

1, 3 

Burder Road 

17, 28, 29 

Hawthorne Close 

2 

King Henry's Walk 

1 

Mildmay Park 

1, 5 

Mildmay Street 

31 

Essex Road 

2, 4 

Ashby Grove 

2, 4 

Church Road 

34, 36 

Clephane Road 


133


Map 

ref: 



Street Name 

138 - 142 (even) 

Elmore Street 

140, 144, 151A, 155 

Englefield Road 

302, 304, 310-318 (even), 

311-319 (odd), 324-338 

(even), 329, 342-380 

(even) 

Essex Road 

1, 3 

Mitchison Road 

181-193 (odd) 

Northchurch Road 

2-10 (con) 

Ockendon Mews 

79-89 (odd) 92, 94 

Ockendon Road 

32 

Embassy 

25-54 (con) 

Bentham Court 

196-242 (even) 

Essex Road 

33 

Finsbury Park 

N/A 

34 

Southgate Road 

89-113 (odd) 

Southgate Road 

65 

Northchurch Road 

134 


4 Glossary 


135

4 Glossary 

4 Glossary 

Glossary 

A1 Use Class: Shops (including shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, undertakers, 

travel and ticket agencies, post offices (but not sorting offices), pet shops, sandwich 

bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners, funeral directors and internet 

cafés). 

A2 Use Class: Financial and Professional services(including financial services such 

as banks and building societies, professional services (other than health and medical 

services) including estate and employment agencies and betting offices. 

A3 Use Class: Restaurants and cafés(including for the sale of food and drink for 

consumption on the premises - restaurants, snack bars and cafés) 

A4 Use Class: Includes Public Houses, wine bars or other drinking establishments 

(but not night clubs). 

A5 Use Class: Hot food takeaways - for the sale of hot food for consumption off the 

premises. 

Active frontages: a building accommodating uses on the ground floor which generate 

passing trade and provide a shop-type window display providing visual interest for 

pedestrians. 

Archaeological priority areas: Areas suspected to contain archaeological remains 

and for which a survey is required. 

Affordable housing: Housing designed to meet the needs of households whose 

incomes are not sufficient to allow them to access decent and appropriate housing. 

Affordable housing includes both social rented and intermediate housing. 

Affordable retail space: Generally, a small retail unit with a rental value below the 

market rate (dependent on the sector and location). May also include market stalls 

or street booths. See also affordable workspace. 

Affordable workspace: Generally, a workspace managed by a not-for-profit 

organisation, with a rental value below the market rate (dependent on the sector and 

location). Affordable workspace is sought to ensure diversity in supply and types of 

workspace in all locations. See also affordable retail space. 

Apart-Hotel: A serviced apartment complex for temporary accommodation of no more 

than 90 days, typically with a hotel-style booking system and a shared lobby 

Area Action Plan: this is a Development Plan Document which provides a planning 

framework for an area of significant change or conservation. 

B1 Use Class: Business: Offices, research and development, light industry appropriate 

in a residential area in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) 

Order 1987 and its subsequent amendments. 

B2 Use Class: General industrial: in accordance with the Town and Country Planning 

(Use Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent amendments. 

B8 Use Class: Storage or distribution – including open air storage in accordance with 

the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent 

amendments 

136 


4 Glossary 

Biodiversity: The diversity, or variety, of plants, animals and other living things in a 

particular locality. It encompasses habitat diversity and genetic diversity. 

Brownfield: Previously developed land which is, or has been, occupied by a 

permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land and any associated 

fixed surface infrastructure. 

Business floorspace/ buildings/ development/ uses: Activities or uses that fall 

within the B-use class (i.e. offices, industry, or warehousing). 

Business Improvement District (BID): An area where businesses agree to pay 

additional rates to fund improvements to the local general environment, with the aim 

of encouraging local economic development. 

C1 Use Class: Hotels , boarding and guest houses where no significant element of 

care is provided in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) 

Order 1987 and its subsequent amendments. 

C2 Use Class: Residential institutions – care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, 

boarding schools, residential colleges and training centres in accordance with the 

Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent 

amendments. 

C2A Use Class: Secure residential institution – use for a provision of secure residential 

accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention 

centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure 

hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as a military barracks in 

accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its 

subsequent amendments. 

C3 Use Class: Dwelling houses - this class is formed of 3 parts (in accordance with 

the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent 

amendments): 

C3(a) covers use by a single person or a family (a couple whether married or 

not, a person related to one another with members of the family of one of the 

couple to be treated as members of the family of the other), an employer and 

certain domestic employees (such as an au pair, nanny, nurse, governess, 

servant, chauffeur, gardener, secretary and personal assistant), a carer and the 

person receiving the care and a foster parent and foster child. 

C3(b) up to six people living together as a single household and receiving care 

e.g. supported housing schemes such as those for people with learning disabilities 

or mental health problems. 

C3(c) allows for groups of people (up to six) living together as a single household. 

This allows for those groupings that do not fall within the C4 HMO definition, but 

which fell within the previous C3 use class, to be provided for i.e. a small religious 

community may fall into this section as could a homeowner who is living with a 

lodger. 

C4 Use Class : Houses in Multiple Occupation (small shared dwelling houses occupied 

by between three and six unrelated individuals, as their only or main residence, who 

share basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom) in accordance with the Town 

and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent amendments. 


137

4 Glossary 

Car clubs: Clubs where a number of people share a pool car(s) for rent or otherwise, 

for personal use. 

Car-free development: No parking provision will be allowed on site and the occupiers 

will have no ability to obtain car parking permits, except for parking needed to meet 

the needs of disabled people. 

Central Activities Zone: The area of central London where planning policy promotes 

finance, tourism, specialist retail and cultural uses and activities. 

Change of use: A type development that requires planning permission if it is judged 

to be ‘material’. However, this excludes any change between uses which are within 

the same use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. It also excludes changes 

of use that are Permitted Development as defined in the General Permitted 

Development Order. 

Comparison goods retailers: Shops that sell items where some comparison is likely 

to be made before purchasing goods (e.g. clothing, carpets, electrical goods). 

Commercial-led development: Development where the majority of floorspace is for 

business uses. 

Combined Heat and Power (CHP): the combined production of heat and power, 

where the heat emitted as a by-product of energy generation is captured for useful 

purposes. 

Conservation areas: Areas are designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and 

Conservation Areas) Act 1990, primarily by local authorities, for their special 

architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable 

to preserve or enhance. Conservation Area guidelines have been produced to guide 

development decisions in each area. 

Convenience goods retailers: shops that sell everyday items such as food, drink 

and newspapers. 

Core Strategy: the Core Strategy is a Development Plan Document setting out the 

long-term spatial vision for the local planning authority area and the spatial objectives 

and strategic policies to deliver that vision. 

Creative industries: Activities which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and 

talent, and which have their potential for wealth and job creation through the generation 

and exploitation of intellectual property. 

Cumulative impact: In terms of the 2003 Licensing Act, “cumulative impact” means 

the potential impact on the promotion of the licensing objectives of a significant number 

of licensed premises concentrated in one area. 

D1 Use Class: Non-residential institutions – clinics, health centres, crèches, day 

nurseries, day centres, schools, art galleries, museums, libraries, halls, places of 

worship, church halls, law courts, non-residential education and training centres in 

accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its 

subsequent amendments. 

D2 Use Class: Assembly and leisure – cinemas, music and concert halls, bingo and 

dance halls (but not nightclubs), swimming baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums or sports 

arenas (except for motor sports, or where firearms are used) in accordance with the 

Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent 

amendments. 

138 


4 Glossary 

Development: The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations 

in, on, over or under the land; or the making of any material change in the use of any 

buildings or other land, as defined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as 

amended. Unless it is defined under the Act as ‘permitted development’, planning 

permission is required for the carrying out of any development of land. 

Development Plan: The Development Plan sets out the local planning authority's 

policies and proposals for the development and use of land. The Development Plan 

for Islington consists of the London Plan and the Local Development Framework, 

including the Development Plan Documents within the LDF. 

Development Plan Documents (DPD): Statutory planning documents, produced by 

the local planning authority, that form part of the Local Development Framework 

including the Core Strategy, Site Allocations, Development Management Policies and 

Area Action Plans. 

Development Management: Development management is a positive and proactive 

approach to shaping, considering, determining and delivering development proposals. 

It is led by the local planning authority, working closely with those proposing 

developments and other stakeholders. It is undertaken in the spirit of partnership and 

inclusiveness, and supports the delivery of key priorities and outcomes. 

District town centres: Usually comprise groups of shops often containing at least 

one supermarket, and a range of non-retail services, such as banks, building societies 

and restaurants, as well as local public facilities such as a library. These centres 

traditionally provided convenience goods and services for more local communities 

and are distributed across London. Some District centres have developed specialist 

shopping functions, often as a result of their lower rents. 

Employment floorspace/buildings/development/uses: Activities or uses that 

generate employment, including offices, industry, warehousing, showrooms, hotels, 

retail, entertainment, educational, health and leisure uses (regardless of whether the 

end occupier is private, public or charity sector). It should be noted that some of these 

uses fall within the PPS4 classification of “main town centre uses” (e.g. retail, leisure, 

entertainment, arts, culture and tourism). 

Employment-led development: Development where the majority of floorspace is 

for employment uses. 

Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA): A tool for identifying the potential impact of 

policies on residents, helping to deliver excellent services to residents by making sure 

that policies reflect the diverse needs of the community. Ensures that policies fulfil 

the requirements of anti-discrimination and equalities legislation. 

Family housing: Homes appropriate for occupation by an adult, or adults, with one 

or more children. The minimum requirement for these is defined in the London Housing 

Design Guide as "two-bedroom, three-person homes", but generally family housing 

would be expected to have 3 or more bedrooms, as well as adequate outdoor private 

or semi-private space suitable for play. 

Flexible homes: General needs homes that are lifetime-homes-plus. They are 

visitable and adaptable; the 16 design standards enhanced to respond to the 

contemporary brief in Islington (defined in Islington’s Accessible Housing SPD March 

2009) 


139

4 Glossary 

Fuel poverty: fuel poverty means spending more than 10% of a household’s income 

on simply keeping warm and providing basic hot water and lighting. 

Green roofs: green roofs are vegetated layers that sit on top of the conventional roof 

surfaces of a building, which can support a wide range of plant life. Green roofs can 

create, or improve, biodiversity, contribute to minimising flood risk, improve thermal 

efficiency and improve the microclimate. 

Green infrastructure: a network of connected, high quality, multi-functional open 

spaces, corridors and the links in between that provide multiple benefits for people 

and wildlife. 

Green performance plan: A plan for the operation of the building, detailing measurable 

outputs for the occupied building, particularly for energy consumption, CO 2 

emissions 

and water use, and setting out arrangements for monitoring the progress of the plan 

over the first years of occupancy, as well as the arrangements for enforcement in the 

event that agreed objectives are not met. 

Green procurement plan: A plan detailing how construction materials have been 

selected to minimise environmental impacts over their life cycle. 

Grey-water recycling: Grey-water refers to waste water from showers, baths and 

washbasins (it does not include the more contaminated water from kitchen sinks and 

washing machines). As long as drinking water quality is not required, this water can 

be treated and re-used, e.g. for flushing toilets, watering gardens and for washing 

machines. 

Gross Internal Area (GIA) : the area of a building measured to the internal face of 

the perimeter walls at each floor level. The GIA includes includes floor area of habitable 

and non-habitable rooms plus circulation, plus area taken up by internal partitions. It 

does not include the area of external private amenity space. 

Gyratory: A type of road junction at which traffic enters a one-way stream around a 

central island. 

Habitable room: Habitable rooms provide the living accommodation of the dwelling. 

They include living room, dining room, study, home office, conservatoroy, bedroom 

etc. They exclude the bathroom, WC, utility room, storeroom and circulation space. 

Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Health Impact Assessments consider the potential 

impacts of planning policies and decisions on health and health inequalities. They 

identify actions that can enhance the positive effects, and mitigate, or eliminate, the 

negative effects of developments. 

Heritage assets: A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape positively 

identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning 

decisions. Heritage assets are the valued components of the historic environment. 

They include designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning 

authority during the process of decision-making or through the plan-making process 

(including local listing). A heritage asset holds meaning for society over and above 

its functional utility. It is this heritage significance that justifies a degree of protection 

in planning decisions 

Historic Parks and Gardens: Registered parks and gardens are designated by 

English Heritage under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 for 

their special historic interest. 

140 


4 Glossary 

Hostel: Hostels Residential accommodation, usually not self-contained, often for a 

particular group of people and classified as sui generis uses where no significant 

element of care is provided in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use 

Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent amendments. This does not include ‘youth 

hostels’ as these are a type of visitor accommodation (C1 Use Class). 

Hotels: Includes all hotels, guest houses, apart-hotels, bed and breakfast 

accommodation and other similar tourist accommodation, including tourist hostels. 

House in multiple occupation (HMO): see reference to Use Class C4. 

Independent retailer/service: Generally mean, a single retail/service outlet, or a 

chain of two or three stores, managed by either a sole trader or a family firm. 

Landmark: A building or site which is a prominent identifying feature in a landscape, 

usually with historical or architectural significance. These can be categorised as 

follows: recognised landmarks; historical local landmark or value or local landmark 

supporting legibility and streetscape. 

Landscape plan: A plan showing the design and layout of all outdoor areas within 

the curtilage of a development. 

Legibility: The degree to which a place and its layout can be easily understood. 

Lifetime homes: General needs housing that is flexible and adaptable to meet diverse 

and changing needs, designed to satisfy 16 basic design criteria (updated July 2010) 

criteria are set out in full on www.lifetimehomes.org.uk 

Listed building: A building of special architectural or historic interest, as listed under 

s1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Listed Buildings 

are graded under the English Heritage classification to show their relative importance, 

with Grade I buildings being of exceptional interest, Grade II* being particularly 

important buildings of more than special interest. 

Local Development Framework (LDF): A collection of planning policy documents, 

including Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents and 

the Local Development Scheme, Statement of Community Involvment and Annual 

Monitoring Report. 

Local views: Protected public views defined in Appendix 1 

London Plan: The strategic spatial development strategy for the whole of Greater 

London produced by the Mayor of London. 

London squares: A garden or enclosed or unenclosed land protected by the London 

Squares Preservation Act 1931. 

Major development: Major development is defined in the Town and Country Planning 

(General Development Procedure) Order 1995 as being “development involving any 

one or more of the following- 

(a) the winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral-working deposits; 

(b) waste development; 

(c) the provision of dwellinghouses where- 

(i) the number of dwellinghouses to be provided is 10 or more; or 


141

4 Glossary 

(ii) the development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectare or 

more and it is not known whether the development falls within paragraph (c)(i); 

(d) the provision of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created by the 

development is 1,000 square metres or more; or 

(e) development carried out on a site having an area of 1 hectare or more. 

In addition to the above, the following developments will be subject to the 

pre-application procedure: proposals for development requiring an EIA; proposals 

involving complex listed building or conservation issues; and telecommunications 

proposals for composite proposals for 10 or more sites. 

Major town centres: Characteristic of inner London, are also important shopping 

and service centres, often with a borough-wide catchment. Their attractiveness for 

retailing is derived from a mix of both comparison and convenience shopping. Some 

Major centres, which have developed sizeable catchment areas, also have some 

leisure and entertainment functions. Major centres normally have over 50,000 square 

metres of retail floorspace. 

Microclimate: is local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding 

area 

Mixed-use development: provision of a mix of complementary uses, such as 

residential, community and leisure uses, on a site or within a particular area. 

Mixed tenure: to have a mix of social and private housing. 

Mode share: the percentage of trips made using a particular type of transport e.g. 

bicycles 

Night-time uses: Any cultural or social activities which take place after dusk. 

Open Space: all space of public value, including public soft and hard landscaped 

areas, parks and playing fields, and also including areas of water such as rivers, lakes 

and reservoirs, which can offer opportunities for sport and recreation or can also act 

as a visual amenity and a haven for wildlife. 

Permeability: The degree to which people can easily moved through a place. 

Planning Obligations: Planning obligations are contributions from developers, either 

in the form of physical works and / or financial payments to fulfil a range of functions, 

including to mitigate the impact of a development and to make development acceptable 

in planning terms. Planning obligations may be agreed through a unilateral agreement 

or legal agreement, under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. 

Revised provisions for planning obligations are under discussion, and there has been 

a consultation on a Community Infrastructure Levy, which may operate alongside the 

provisions of Section 106. 

Planning Policy Statement (PPS): National policy documents setting out the 

Government's national policies on aspects of planing in England. 

Proposals map: The adopted proposals map illustrates the policy and proposal site 

boundaries referred to in the Core Strategy. It will be revised as each new Development 

Plan is adopted, and it should always reflect the up-to-date planning strategy for the 

area. 

142 


4 Glossary 

Protected views: Public views that are designated by the Local Planning Authority, 

Mayor of London or Secretary of State. These views are protected from detrimental 

infringement by development, and managed to maintain quality of the view. 

Public realm: The space between, and within, buildings that is publicly accessible, 

including streets, squares, forecourts, parks and open spaces. 

Regeneration: Economic, social and environmental renewal and improvement of 

areas. 

Registered Historic Parks and Gardens: Aregister compiled by English Heritage 

of landscapes that are valued for their design, diversity and historical importance and 

graded as I, II* or II, it includes private gardens, public parks and other green spaces, 

country estates and cemeteries. 

Register of Locally Significant Shop fronts: Shop fronts identified for their 

architectural or historic merit by the council and form part of a local list of buildings 

of architectural or historic interest which is maintained by the council. 

Registered Social Landlords (RSL): a housing association, housing trust, housing 

cooperative or housing company that provides housing mainly for households in need, 

either for rent or under shared equity arrangements, and which is registered with the 

Housing Corporation. 

Secured by Design: is a UK Police flagship initiative that advocates designing out 

crime to promote safer neighbourhoods. 

Semi-private amenity space: open space within housing estates and other similar 

spaces in the borough not designated as open space 

Sheltered Housing: housing with an element of social care. 

Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation: The Greater London Authority 

designated SINCs to highlight areas of ecological value that are rich in wildlife within 

the city. The sites are graded as being of Metropolitan, Borough or Local Importance. 

Sites of Metropolitan Importance are those which contain the best examples of 

London’s habitats and rare species that are of significance to London. Sites of Borough 

Importance are those identified to have an importance to Islington, and any damage 

would mean a significant loss to the borough. A site of Local Importance is identified 

because of its value to the nearby community, especially in areas that are deficient 

in wildlife sites. 

Small shops: typically a shop unit with 80m 2 gross floorspace or less, occupied by 

an independent retailer or service outlet 

Social and community facilities : These facilities are available to, and serve the 

needs of local communities and others and are often funded in some way by a grant 

or investment from a government department or public body or the voluntary sector. 

Social and community facilities are comprised of buildings and external spaces. They 

include social services uses such as day-care centres, luncheon clubs, and drop-in 

centres. Other facilities include education facilities such as schools, colleges and 

universities, health facilities, recreation facilities such as playgrounds, leisure centres, 

sports pitches and associated buildings, youth centres and local arts facilities. Libraries, 

courts, general and social uses such as community meeting facilities, community 

halls, public toilets, facilities for emergency services, fire, ambulance and police. The 


143

4 Glossary 

Acronyms 

social and community facilities are generally in use classes C2, D1, D2 (6) and possibly 

some sui generis uses in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use 

Classes) Order 1987 and its subsequent amendments. 

Social housing: Housing which is affordable by all those in housing need. This is 

typically provided as rented accommodation through the local authority or a Registered 

Social Landlord and rents that can be charged are set by the Government. 

Sui Generis Uses: Certain uses do not fall within any use class and are considered 

'sui generis'. Such uses include: theatres, houses in multiple occupation, hostels 

providing no significant element of care, scrap yards. Petrol filling stations and shops 

selling and/or displaying motor vehicles. Retail warehouse clubs, nightclubs, 

launderettes, taxi businesses, amusement centres and casinos. 

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD): Statutory planning documents that 

provide supplementary information to support the policies in Development Plan 

Documents. 

Sustainability Appraisal: When preparing a Local Development Document, the 

Council has to carry out a formal assessment of its contribution to sustainable 

development and assess its social, economic and environmental impacts. 

Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS): An important document created by the 

Islington Strategic Partnership which sets out a broad vision for promoting or improving 

the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of an area, together with proposals 

for delivering that vision. 

Sustainable transport: Alternative modes of transport to the low-occupancy private 

car, including walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing, water transportand city 

car clubs. 

Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS): A means of managing surface water 

drainage to reduce peak run-off rates and improve water quality. 

Tenure blind: The principle that dwellings of different tenures should be designed to 

be indistinguishable. 

Town centres: A defined area, including the primary shopping area and areas of 

predominantly leisure, business and other main town centre uses within or adjacent 

to the primary shopping area. Islington has Major and District town centres. The 

hierarchy of Islington's town centres is designated in the London Plan but their 

boundaries are defined on Islington's proposals map. 

Urban fabric: The physical form of the built environment. 

Urban heat island effect: Localised heating of the urban micro-climate due to the 

density of development and associated heat sources. 

Windfall sites: a site that is not specifically allocated for Development in a 

Development Plan, but which unexpectedly becomes available for development during 

the lifetime of a plan. 

AAP Area Action Plan 

ATCS Angel Town Centre Strategy 

6 Not all uses in these classes are social and community facilities 

144 


4 Glossary 

BID Business Improvement District 

BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology 

BSF Building Schools for the Future 

CAZ Central Activity Zone 

CHP Combined Heat and Power 

CCHP Combined Cooling, Heat and Power 

CIL Community Infrastructure Levy 

CO 2 

Carbon Dioxide 

DEN Decentralised Energy Network 

DEFRA Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 

EqIA Equalities Impact Assessment 

GiGL Greenspace Information for Greater London 

GIA Grows Internal Area 

GLA Greater London Authority 

HCS Housing Capacity Study 

HIA Health Impact Assessment 

HUDU Healthy Urban Development Unit 

ISP Islington Strategic Partnership 

LDF Local Development Framework 

LIGS Locally Important Geological Sites 

LPA Local Planning Authority 

MUGA Multi-Use Game Area 

NLWP North London Waste Plan 

PCT Primary Care Trust 

PPG Planning Policy Guidance 

PPS Planning Policy Statement 

SCI Statement of Community Involvement 

SEN Special Education Needs 

SHMA Strategic Housing Market Assessment 

SHLAA Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 

SINC Site of Importance for Nature Conservation 

SMEs Small/Medium Sized Enterprises 

SPD Supplementary Planning Document 

STS Sustainable Transport Strategy 

SUDS Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems 

TfL Transport for London 


145

Index 

Index 

'Secured by Design' 

11 

A Combined Heat and Power plant 29 

Accessible homes 

58 

Accessible Housing Supplementary58 

Planning Document (SPD) 


20 

Arboricultural Implications 38 

Assessment 

Arboricultural Implications 40 

Assessments 

Archaeological Priority Areas 17 

Archaeology 

16 

Biodiversity 

105 

Biodiversity Action Plan 

37, 39, 

105 

Biodiversity Action Plans 102 

BREEAM 

24, 26, 

32–33 

Building Regulations 

27, 29, 31 

Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action15, 18 

Plan 

Business space 

74 

Carbon Dioxide reduction targets 27 

CAZ 

34, 74 

Ceiling heights 

58 

Central Activities Zone 

74 

Child yield 

106 

CHP 

31 

CO2 emissions 

21 

CO2 off-setting 

27 

CO2 reduction target 

31 

CO2 reduction targets 

24 

CO2 reductions 

31 

Code for Sustainable Homes 24, 26, 32 

Code of Practice for Construction 26 

Sites 

Community Infrastructure Levy 40, 110 

Conservation Areas 

15 

Conversion of Houses 

60 

Core Strategy 

3, 5 

Decentralised Energy 

29 

Decentralised Energy Network 29 

Delivery 

53 

Density 

Design Criteria 

Development Management 

Development Plan 

Development Plan Document 

Development within Town Centre 

boundaries 

District town centres 

Drinking water fountains 

E. Locally listed buildings 

EcoHomes 

End-of-trip facilities 

Energy efficiency 

Energy Service Company 

Energy Statement 

Energy Statements. 

Extensions 

Formal play space 

Green Performance Plan 

Green Procurement Plan 

Green roofs 

Greenspace Information for 

Greater London 

Health 

Health facilities 

Health Impact Assessment 

Health impacts 

Healthy Development 

Heating and cooling 

Heritage 

Heritage assets 

Hotels 

Housing 

Housing space standards 


Inclusive Landscape Design SPD 

Independent retailers 

Individual (Local) Shops 

Informal play space 

Infrastructure 

Islington Employment Study 

Update 

57 

10 

4 

4 

3 

82 

78 

101 

16 

32 

50 

27 

30 

24 

29 

28 

106 

24 

25 

37 

40 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

33 

14–15 

15 

95 

57 

58, 61 

12 

38, 43, 

106 

80 

91 

106 

109 

75 


Index 

Islington Urban Design Guide 10 

Islington Urban Design Guide SPD 11 

Islington's Cultural, Community and 96 

Social Uses 

Landmarks 

18 

Landscape 

12 

Landscape design 

12 

Landscape Plan 

37 

Landscaping and Biodiversity 37 

Listed buildings 

16 

Local Development Framework 3, 5, 8 

Local Shopping Parades 89 

Local validation requirements 25 

Local views 

18, 114 

London Plan 

3, 5 

London squares 

16 

London Views Management 17 

Framework 

Major town centres 

78 

Markets 

94 


21 

Modal shift 

45 

Natural play 

106 

Noise 

70 

Open space 

102, 105 

Open spaces 

102 

Other heritage landscapes 16 

Parking 

53 

Planning Obligations 

109 

Planning Obligations (S106) SPD 40, 53 

Planning Obligations (S106) SPD 105 

(2009) 

Planning Obligations SPD 105–107 

Planning Policy Statements 5 

Play space 

100, 106 

Play Space Management and 106 

Maintenance Plan 

Positive risk taking 

106 

Primary frontages 

87 

Principal Roads 

47 

Private Open Space 

40 

Private outdoor space 

57, 68 

Promoting small and independent 79 

shops 

Proposals Map 

17, 102 

Protected Views 

17 

Protected View 

17 

Public Houses 

95 

Public open space 

37, 57 

Register of Locally Significant 93 

Shopfronts 

Registered historic parks and 16 

gardens 

Regulated CO2 emissions 27 

Residential space requirements 57 

Secondary frontages 

87 

Section 106 

110 

Semi-private amenity spaces 102 

Servicing 

53 

Shared Heating Network 29 

Sheltered Housing and Care 71 

Homes 

Shop Fronts 

93 

Site of Importance for Nature 105 

Conservation 

Sites of Importance for Nature 102 

Conservation 

Small and independent shops 79 

Sport and recreation 

100, 107 

St. Paul's Cathedral 

17 

Strategic views 

17 

Sustainable communities 6, 58 

Sustainable Design and Construction24 

Statements 

Sustainable Design SPD 24, 28, 

39–40 

Sustainable Design Standards 32 

Sustainable Design Supplementary 25 

Planning Document 

Sustainable development 6 

Sustainable Drainage 

35 

Sustainable Drainage Systems 35 

Sustainable Transport Planning 45 

Guidance Note 


20 

The greening of vertical surfaces 37 

Toilets 

101 

Town centres 

74, 78 

Tree Constraints Plan 

38 

Tree Constraints Plans 

40 

Tree Preservation Order 

38 

Tree Survey 

38 

Development Management Policies - Direction of Travel Islington Council

Index 

Tree Surveys 

Trees 

Urban Heat Island Effect 

Water efficiency 

40 

38 

34 

33 


Give us your views by 31 January 2011 

Write to us at Planning Policy, 222 Upper Street, N1 1YA 

Email us at LDF@islington.gov.uk 

Visit www.islington.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsultations 

Call 020 7527 7109 or 020 7527 2720 

If you would like a copy of this Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan 

document in a different format such as large print, audio or easy read, or a 

different language, please contact us and where possible, we will meet your 

request: 

E LDF@islington.gov.uk 

T 020 7527 7109 

F 020 7527 8059 

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W www.islington.gov.uk 

Printed on 100 % recycled paper using vegetable based inks. Published November 2010 .

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