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

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