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

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