Policy information sourced from the Islington Local Plan

B2 New business floorspace

  • New business floorspace will be directed to the locations identified in (i) to (iii) below (and shown on Figure 4.1) to support the specific role and function of each of the locations. The Council will use conditions on future proposals to ensure that specific uses such as new office, research and development and light industrial floorspace are secured in these locations. Proposals must maximise the provision of business floorspace in line with the priorities for each location. Proposals involving existing business floorspace must prioritise the intensification, renewal and modernisation of this business floorspace throughout the borough and particularly in the locations set out below
    1. CAZ and Bunhill and Clerkenwell AAP area: office uses are the clear priority in this area, in order to support London’s strategic business role. The primary economic function of the CAZ and AAP area depends on maintaining and enhancing office uses. A range of workspace typologies are supported, including Grade A offices, serviced offices, co-working spaces, hybrid workspace and other types of flexible workspace and lower specification office space suitable for SMEs and business services. Residential uses are not a key priority in this location. Policy AAP1: Prioritising office use of the Bunhill and Clerkenwell AAP sets out when residential uses may be considered acceptable in this area.
    2. CAZ fringe Spatial Strategy areas – Angel and Upper Street; and King’s Cross and Pentonville Road: New business floorspace is a priority in these Spatial Strategy areas, particularly on White Lion Street, Pentonville Road and upper floor locations across Angel Town Centre. A variety of business floorspace typologies is encouraged along Pentonville Road and around Kings Cross/York Way, including business space which meets the needs of SMEs. Spatial policies SP2: King’s Cross and Pentonville Road and SP4: Angel and Upper Street set out when residential uses may be considered acceptable in this area.
    3. Priority Employment Locations (PELs): Growth and intensification of business uses to provide for the SME sector, as well as meeting local/specialist needs, is the key priority within these areas. Increasing provision of space that is appropriate to meet the diverse needs of the SME economy is supported. Business floorspace should be prioritised in these areas. The provision of nonbusiness uses will be managed in line with Policy B3: Existing business floorspace.
  • The introduction of uses that could undermine the specific economic function of the locations identified in Part A will be resisted.
  • In LSISs shown on Figure 4.1, the overriding priority land uses are industrial uses (light industrial, B2 general industrial, B8 storage and distribution and Sui Generis uses which are akin to industrial uses). The retention and intensification of industrial uses will be required as part of any proposal within a LSIS. The light industrial element of Class E continues to be sought in the LSIS and will be secured through condition. The provision of hybrid space is supported. The co-location of industrial use with office and/ or research and development uses will be permitted where there would be an intensification of industrial use on the site (either through new floorspace or the redevelopment/modernisation of existing floorspace) and it can be demonstrated that the continued industrial function of the LSIS would remain. The introduction of some non-industrial uses could undermine the primary industrial economic function of LSISs and will therefore only be allowed where proposals comply with the co-location criteria as set out above and/or Policy B3: Existing business floorspace, Part D, where relevant.
  • All development proposals within LSISs must prevent or mitigate impacts on air quality, in line with Policy S7: Improving air quality and promote sustainable transport in line with Policies T2: Sustainable transport choices and T5: Delivery, servicing and construction. Proposals for industrial uses which would lead to a significant increase in vehicle movements may potentially have particular impacts on air quality, and will be required to put in place robust, specific mitigation measures to minimise the impacts.
  • Proposals for office, research and development and light industrial floorspace that meets local and/or wider demand should be located on upper floors in the Primary Shopping Area of designated Town Centres consistent with Policy R2, but are considered suitable on any floor elsewhere in designated Town Centres and in LSAs subject to the relevant criteria in Policies R3 and R4 respectively.
  • Outside of the locations mentioned in Parts A, C and E, new business floorspace is acceptable where it would not detract from the character of the local area; and would not detrimentally impact on residential amenity. Proposals for new business floorspace in these locations must be accessible to all in accordance with the priority for sustainable modes of transport set out in Policy T1, and must not prejudice the overall aim of reducing the need to travel.
  • All development proposals involving non-industrial business floorspace (including affordable workspace provided in line with Policy B4) must have regard to the following:
    1. Business floorspace must allow for future flexibility for a range of occupiers, including future subdivision and/or amalgamation, and provide a range of unit types and sizes, including a significant proportion of small units, particularly for SMEs. Full separation of business and residential floorspace is required where business floorspace forms part of a mixed use residential development.
    2. Provision of a good level of amenity for occupiers of the business floorspace, including adequate levels of daylight and sunlight; and access to communal/ ancillary facilities including meeting rooms.
    3. The development of new business floorspace must incorporate the highest inclusive design standards achievable in context, and meet the travel and transport needs of those for whom public transport remains inaccessible.
    4. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the design of proposals individually and cumulatively contribute to providing the range of spaces required to support the primary function/sector of the particular area in which it is located. (v) Ancillary uses must be clearly linked to the operation of the business floorspace.
  • Proposals for new industrial and warehousing uses must provide:
    1. satisfactory access and servicing, including off-street loading, appropriate delivery arrangements in line with Policy T5, and adequate yard space; and
    2. good quality design which provides space that is adaptable to meet the needs of a range of industrial uses and occupiers, including sufficient clear internal ceiling/eaves heights and loads, and adequate goods lifts.
  • Where proposed, live-work units will be considered to be C3 residential floorspace and will not be considered business or employment floorspace. Such units will not contribute towards the maximisation requirement set out in Part A of this policy. Existing live/work units are classed as business floorspace; proposals involving the change of use/loss of existing live/work units will be assessed against Policy B3: Existing business floorspace.

For more information please see the Islington Local Plan