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

7 Shops, Leisure and Services
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.
Development Management Policies - Direction of Travel Islington Council
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