Policy information sourced from City of London Local Plan

DM 22.1 Location and Protection of Social and Community Facilities

  1. To resist the loss of social and community facilities unless:
    • replacement facilities are provided on-site or within the vicinity which meet the needs of the users of the existing facility; or
    • necessary services can be delivered from other facilities without leading to, or increasing, any shortfall in provision; or
    • it has been demonstrated that there is no demand for another similar use on site.
  2. Proposals for the redevelopment or change of use of social and community facilities must be accompanied by evidence of the lack of need for those facilities. Loss of facilities will only be permitted where it has been demonstrated that the existing floor space has been actively marketed at reasonable terms for public social and community floorspace.
  3. The development of new social and community facilities should provide flexible, multi-use space suitable for a range of different uses and will be permitted:
    • where they would not be prejudicial to the business City and where there is no strong economic reason for retaining office use;
    • in locations which are convenient to the communities they serve;
    • in or near identified residential areas, providing their amenity is safeguarded;
    • as part of major mixed-use developments, subject to an assessment of the scale, character, location and impact of the proposal on existing facilities and neighbouring uses.
  4. Developments that result in additional need for social and community facilities will be required to provide the necessary facilities or contribute towards enhancing existing facilities to enable them to meet identified need.

For more information please see the Local Plan