Policy information sourced from the Islington Development Management Policies

DM2.3 Heritage

A) Conserving and enhancing the historic environment

Islington’s historic environment is an irreplaceable resource and the council will ensure that the borough’s heritage assets are conserved and enhanced in a manner appropriate to their significance. Development that makes a positive contribution to Islington’s local character and distinctiveness will be encouraged.

B) Conservation areas

  • The council will require that alterations to existing buildings in conservation areas conserve or enhance their significance. Similarly, new developments within Islington’s conservation areas and their settings are required to be of high quality contextual design so that they conserve or enhance a conservation area’s significance. Harm to the significance of a conservation area will not be permitted unless there is a clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to the significance of a conservation area will be strongly resisted.
  • The council will require the retention of all buildings and structures which make a positive contribution to the significance of a conservation area. The appropriate repair and re-use of such buildings will be encouraged. The significance of a conservation area can be substantially harmed over time by the cumulative impact arising from the demolition of buildings which may individually make a limited positive contribution to the significance of a conservation area. Consequently, the loss of a building which makes a positive contribution to a conservation area will frequently constitute substantial harm to the significance of the conservation area.
  • The council will resist the loss of spaces, street patterns, views, vistas, uses, trees, and landscapes which contribute to the significance of a conservation area.
  • The council will use its statutory powers to ensure that buildings and spaces within conservation areas that are at risk from neglect or decay are appropriately maintained and repaired.
  • Planning applications are required to include a Heritage Statement which demonstrates a clear understanding of the significance of any heritage assets affected by proposals and the impact on their significance.

C) Listed buildings

  • The significance of Islington’s listed buildings is required to be conserved or enhanced. Appropriate repair and reuse of listed buildings will be encouraged.
  • The significance of a listed building can be harmed by inappropriate repair, alteration or extension. Proposals to repair, alter or extend a listed building must be justified and appropriate. Consequently a high level of professional skill and craftsmanship will be required. Proposals to repair, alter or extend a listed building which harm its significance will not be permitted unless there is a clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a listed building will be strongly resisted.
  • New developments within the setting of a listed building are required to be of good quality contextual design. New development within the setting of a listed building which harms its significance will not be permitted unless there is a clear and convincing justification, and substantial harm will be strongly resisted.
  • The best use for a listed building is usually that for which it was designed. However, where the original use of a listed building is demonstrably unviable other uses may be permitted provided they do not harm the significance of the listed building.
  • The council will use its statutory powers to ensure that listed buildings at risk from neglect or decay are appropriately maintained and repaired.
  • Applications for listed building consent must be accompanied by a Heritage Statement which demonstrates a clear understanding of the significance of the affected listed building and of the impact on its significance.

D) Registered historic parks and gardens, London squares and other heritage landscapes

Spaces identified in the London Parks and Gardens Trust’s Inventory of Historic Green Spaces are included in this section. Appendix 9 lists these historic green spaces, registered historic parks and gardens and London squares in Islington.

  • Developments must ensure the conservation or enhancement of historic parks and gardens / London squares, and their settings.
  • The council will, and development must, safeguard features which contribute to the significance of the park, garden or square.
  • Developments must not detract from the enjoyment, layout, design, character, appearance or setting of historic parks, gardens or squares and key views out from the landscape, or prejudice future restoration.
  • The council will undertake to prepare conservation statements or management plans and to implement appropriate enhancement schemes for these spaces, or support relevant organisations to do so.

E) Non-designated heritage assets

Non-designated heritage assets, including locally listed buildings and shopfronts, should be identified early in the design process for any development proposal which may impact on their significance. The council will encourage the retention, repair and reuse of non-designated heritage assets. Proposals that unjustifiably harm the significance of a non-designated heritage asset will generally not be permitted.

F) Archaeology and scheduled monuments

  • The council will ensure the conservation of scheduled monuments and non-designated heritage assets with archaeological interest which are of demonstrably equivalent significance.
  • Archaeological priority areas and scheduled monuments are identified on the Policies Map and in Appendix 7. All planning applications likely to affect important archaeological remains are required to include an Archaeological Assessment.
  • Archaeological remains should be retained in situ. Where this cannot be achieved measures must be taken to mitigate the impact of proposals through archaeological fieldwork to investigate and record remains in advance of works, and subsequent analysis, publication and dissemination of the findings.

G) Climate change

  • Proposals that aim to mitigate, and adapt to, the effects of climate change should in the first instance explore all opportunities of enhancing energy efficiency and forms of providing renewable energy and improved adaptation to climate change without harming the significance of heritage assets.
  • Where conflict between climate change objectives and the conservation of heritage assets is unavoidable the public benefit of mitigating the effects of climate change will be weighed against any harm to the significance of heritage assets, in accordance with the development management principles in national, London and Islington planning policy.

For more information please see the Islington Development Management Policies