A.
Town Centres are a focal point for commercial, cultural and civic activity in the borough. There are four Town Centres in Islington: Angel; Nags Head; Finsbury Park; and Archway. Each Town Centre has its own character and serves different functions, which must be maintained and enhanced. Each Town Centre is covered by a specific Spatial Strategy, set out in chapter 2. The Town Centre boundaries are defined on the Policies Map and shown in Figures 4.2 to 4.5 below.
B.
The Council will seek to ensure that all Town Centres develop in a way that supports their continued vitality and viability to meet the needs of local residents, and provide a diverse retail and leisure experience for residents, workers and visitors alike.
C.
Primary Shopping Areas are where retail uses are concentrated in Islington’s Town Centres. The Primary Shopping Area boundaries in each Town Centre are defined on the Policies Map and shown in Figures 4.2 to 4.5 below. Where possible retail uses will be maintained in Primary Shopping Areas. Outside the Primary Shopping Area, a range of main Town Centre uses are considered suitable, in order to promote and encourage diverse shopping and leisure destinations.
D.
LSAs provide more local services, particularly essential convenience retail which caters for daily shopping needs. Some LSAs also have a more diverse mix of commercial uses, particularly leisure uses, which can help to sustain the vibrancy of these areas. LSAs are identified on the Policies Map.
E.
There are a number of other retail and leisure uses that provide a valuable service to local communities but are not within specifically designated areas. These dispersed uses, particularly within retail and café/restaurant use, will be protected where possible.
F.
Residential uses may be acceptable on upper floors in town centres and local shopping areas where they contribute to the vitality and viability of the designated retail area, and reflect existing character.
G.
Small shops/commercial units contribute to the unique character of Islington and support local businesses. The Council will protect existing small shops/commercial units where possible. The Council will promote new small retail provision as part of new developments at ground floor.
H.
Specialist Shopping Areas, such as Fonthill Road and Camden Passage, add to the unique selling proposition and character within Angel and Finsbury Park Primary Shopping Areas, and contribute to the vitality and viability of the borough. Retail uses in this area will be strongly protected, including retail use on upper floors.
I.
Retail, service and leisure uses will be resisted where, by virtue of their location and/or concentration, they would have negative impacts on the character, function and amenity of an area or would negatively impact on the health and wellbeing of the borough’s residents.
J.
Within retail areas, streets will be actively managed to balance the demands on the public realm from businesses, particularly restaurants and cafés, and the need for easy pedestrian movement. Active frontages will be promoted.
K.
New retail development must incorporate the highest inclusive design standards achievable in context, in line with relevant guidance produced by the Council.
Culture and the Night-Time Economy
L.
Cultural uses are an essential part of Islington’s social and economic fabric and their loss or diminution will be strongly resisted.
M.
Islington has a varied night-time economy which the Council will seek to protect and enhance where appropriate. Concentrations of night-time economy uses exist in the borough including in designated Cultural Quarters. The Council will work with partners to support and manage a thriving and safe night-time economy that is wellserved by safe, convenient and sustainable night-time transport.
N.
Angel Town Centre and part of the Clerkenwell and Farringdon area are designated Cultural Quarters. Development proposals within Cultural Quarters should be consistent with Policy R10 by providing new/improved cultural uses and/or uses which support the cultural function within the Quarter and the character of the area.
The Cultural Quarter boundaries are defined on the Policies Map.
O.
Pubs are part of Islington’s social fabric and they contribute positively to Islington’s culture, character and economy. The loss of pubs will be resisted and new pubs encouraged where appropriate.
P.
The development of new cultural and night-time economy uses must incorporate the highest inclusive design standards achievable in context, in line with relevant guidance produced by the Council.
Visitor Accommodation
Q.
To ensure that land is safeguarded for uses which are greater strategic priorities in Islington, development, redevelopment and/or intensification of visitor accommodation will only be supported in specific locations.
R.
Visitor accommodation must be well-designed, accessible and sustainable.
Retail, leisure and services 4.66 In order to meet identified need, the evidence base identifies need for 6,341sqm of convenience floorspace and 12,247sqm of comparison floorspace to be provided by the end of the plan period26. Islington, on the whole, has a robust and thriving retail, leisure and service offer which serves the needs of residents and workers and is part of what attracts visitors to the borough. However, there are significant challenges The 6,341sqm figure was identified in the Retail and Leisure Study (RLS) by assuming that new convenience floorspace will be operated by a foodstore retailer. However, the RLS notes that a higher figure of 11,323sqm of convenience retail floorspace will be needed if local/discount supermarket formats transpire to be the preferred format in the borough. The Council will monitor the delivery of town centre uses and delivery of convenience and comparison floorspace.