Policy R8 restricts concentrations of certain uses like night-time economy and hot food takeaways. It applies to various uses, including betting shops and payday loan shops. The council will resist proposals causing harm to area character or resident wellbeing.
Plain-English summary of the adopted policy text below. The full text is the rule; this is the gist.
Proposals will be resisted where they result in an unacceptable concentration of uses, such as night-time economy uses, hot food takeaways, betting shops and other gambling facilities and payday loan shops. The wide range of Class E uses also allows for overconcentration of certain uses, such as but not limited to café/restaurants, which have potential to cumulatively cause heightened adverse amenity impacts. Concentration of uses will be assessed based on the number of units within a 500m radius of the proposed development. Proposals must be accompanied by sufficient information to allow for assessment of concentration and potential impacts, including information on how these uses will be managed and operated.
B.
In addition to the general assessment of overconcentration in Part A:
(i) (ii)
(iii)
(iv)
proposals for hot food takeaways (Sui Generis Use) will be resisted within 200m of primary and secondary schools. proposals for hot food takeaways (Sui Generis Use) will be resisted where:
a. they would result in 4% or more of total units being in hot food takeaway use, in LSAs of 26 units or more; or
b. they would result in two or more hot food takeaway units, in LSAs with 25 units or less. proposals for betting shops and adult gaming centres will be resisted where:
a. they would result in 4% or more of total units being in betting shop/adult gaming centre use, in LSAs of 26 units or more; or
b. they would result in two or more betting shop/adult gaming centre units, in LSAs with 25 units or less. proposals for betting shops or adult gaming centres in Town Centres will not be permitted where there is an existing betting shop or adult gaming centre within 200m walking distance; or where the resulting amount of betting shops and adult gaming centres would exceed 1.5% of the total units in the Town Centre.
C.
Where proposals for uses serving food and drink are permitted – particularly cafe/restaurant and hot food takeaway uses, and retail uses such as coffee shops and sandwich bars – a condition will be attached to require the operator to achieve, and operate in compliance with, the Healthier Catering Commitment standard.
D.
Where proposals for betting shops, adult gaming centre, payday loan shops, high interest ‘rent-to-own’ retail stores, pawnbrokers and other similar uses are permitted, conditions may be attached (where relevant) to:
(i) require the display of information about local credit unions, debt advice services and/or gambling addiction charities;
(ii) require the operator to sign up to, and operate in compliance with, any scheme(s) which promotes community safety and/or other good practice; and
(iii) require the display of information about any applicable interest rates, fees and charges.
4.128 Due to the borough’s densely developed, mixed-use nature, a range of main Town Centre uses occur in close proximity to places where people live, work, study and socialise. It is important to ensure a mix and balance of complementary day and night-time uses that creates an attractive and vibrant area that co-exists successfully with neighbouring residential areas and does not significantly compromise wellbeing.
Certain types of use can cause detrimental cumulative impacts as a result of their concentration. The Council will resist applications for such uses where they would cause harm to the vitality and viability, character, function and amenity of an area and/or negatively impact on the health and wellbeing of the borough’s residents. The impact on deprived areas in particular will be assessed.
4.129 In assessing the likely impacts of a proposal, regard will be had to the type of use, proposed hours of opening, size of premises, operation and servicing, and measures to mitigate odour and noise from the premises. The Council will also consider whether the proposal is likely to increase or create a negative cumulative impact in the surrounding area (generally within a 500m radius of the site). The 500m radius is established as a sensible straight line distance from the location of the proposed use to measure cumulative impacts taking account of Islington’s relatively small spatial area and dense urban development. Proposals will be resisted that would result in unreasonable negative cumulative impacts that cannot be adequately mitigated. The Council’s Licensing Policy will also be a material consideration in assessing potential impacts of proposals.
4.130 The policy has restrictions (percentage and/or quantum of units) for hot food takeaways (Sui Generis) and betting shops and adult gaming centres (Sui Generis).
These restrictions are necessary due to the adverse impacts on health and wellbeing and vitality and viability of retail centres that these uses can cause. These restrictions are part of a wider comprehensive approach to tackle the causes of ill health, in cooperation with other Council departments including Public Health. The restrictions, either the percentage or the quantum, may be updated in the future through an SPD.
4.131 The level of overweight or obese children in Islington is consistently above both the national and London average. Evidence shows that nearly two thirds of schools in Islington have at least one hot food takeaway within 200m of the school entrance. As part of a comprehensive package of measures to tackle this issue, the Council will resist proposals for hot food takeaways within 200 metres of primary and secondary schools.
4.132 All applications for Sui Generis Hot Food Takeaway’s or Betting Shops must provide a Management and Operating Strategy which includes all the standard information needed when the operator applies for a premises licence. Management and Operating Strategies must also consider any other potential impacts on vitality, viability, character, amenity, function and health and wellbeing.
4.133 Hot food takeaway uses are often associated with unhealthy food, but they are not the only type of premises to serve unhealthy food; retail and café/restaurant uses such as newsagents, coffee shops and cafes also often sell/serve unhealthy food. Applications for relevant retail, café/restaurant and hot food takeaway uses will therefore be conditioned to achieve, and operate in compliance with, the Healthier Catering Commitment standard. This will help provide easier access to healthier food across the borough.
4.134 Islington has a relatively high number of betting shops, compared with other boroughs in London and across the country.