Policy information sourced from the Islington Local Plan

SP2 King’s Cross and Pentonville Road

  • The King’s Cross Spatial Strategy area is partly covered by the CAZ, while the remaining part is a CAZ fringe location, including the King’s Cross Priority Employment Location (PEL). Within these locations existing business uses will be safeguarded and proposals for the intensification, renewal and modernisation of existing business floorspace is encouraged. Proposals for new business floorspace are required to maximise the provision of business floorspace.
  • A broad range of business floorspace typologies are suitable within the Spatial Strategy area, including Grade A offices, hybrid space, and co-working space.
  • The Local Shopping Areas (LSAs) of Kings Cross, Caledonian Road (Copenhagen Street) and Caledonian Road (Central) are located in the Spatial Strategy area. The existing retail and service function of these areas will be maintained and enhanced in line with Policy R4. These shopping areas function together collectively to form a ‘high street’ along Caledonian Road, which should continue to provide important services for local communities, particularly retail and leisure.
  • Opportunities to repair, improve and unify existing frontages on Caledonian Road are encouraged, in particular the stretch between the junctions of Twyford Street and Copenhagen Street.
  • The Council aims to improve the pedestrian, cyclist and bus network and will seek to reduce traffic access on some residential roads. Improvements to public transport capacity are supported. General improvements to the public realm, specifically along York Way and Caledonian Road, will create a safer and better-quality environment for pedestrians and cyclists. Measures to improve bus journey time and bus priority (especially over private vehicles) are supported.
  • The Council will seek to improve connectivity and permeability for pedestrians and cyclists, within and across the Kings Cross area and nearby neighbourhoods, particularly east-west access. Removing barriers to movement and integrating the urban fabric are key priorities for the whole area, but particularly between the area east of York Way and King’s Cross Central. All new development proposals, transport and other public realm schemes must contribute towards achieving these priorities.
  • Regent’s Canal will continue to be an important multifunctional space, primarily as a wildlife corridor but also as a recreational space for pedestrians and cyclists. Access to the canal should be improved, although increased access must not cause detrimental impacts, particularly for biodiversity.
  • Proposals for boater facilities and residential moorings, including those which meet an identified housing need for boat dwellers, will be permitted where:
    1. public access to and along the towpath is not impeded;
    2. they do not hinder navigation along the waterway;
    3. there is no adverse impact on leisure provision that cannot be mitigated;
    4. there is no detrimental impact on air quality, nature conservation and biodiversity value and the character and amenity of the waterway corridor including its function as public open space; and
    5. they respect the amenity of neighbouring residential properties.
  • In addition to Part H above:
    1. To meet the identified need for 7 additional permanent moorings for boat dwellers by 2025 the council will work with the Canal and River Trust to identify opportunities for and convert where appropriate, existing leisure moorings in the area as well as exploring other opportunities for moorings through a waterspace strategy.
    2. If the measures in (i) do not result in the delivery of 7 permanent moorings by the end of 2024, the Council will undertake an early focused review of Policy SP2.
    3. Development of boater facilities will only be acceptable where there is an identified need, which will include being identified in the London Mooring Strategy.
    4. Development of residential moorings must be located on the south of the canal (off-side) and supporting uses and facilities must be in place before the first use of the mooring.
  • King’s Cross has a distinct character, and the area contains a number of heritage assets, including the Regent’s Canal and a number of listed buildings. The area’s character will be protected and enhanced, with high quality design encouraged to respect the local context of King’s Cross and its surroundings.
  • Four sites in the Spatial Strategy area have been identified as potentially suitable for tall buildings over 30 metres.
  • Housing development will come forward on sites allocated for housing as well as windfall sites in the area over the plan period.
  • Site Allocations within the Spatial Policy Area are expected to deliver 270 homes and 20,500sqm of office space over the plan period.

For more information please see the Islington Local Plan