Policy information sourced from the Islington Local Plan

SP6 Finsbury Park

  • Finsbury Park is a District Town Centre with a Primary Shopping Area covering parts of Fonthill Road and parts of Stroud Green Road, Blackstock Road and Seven Sisters Road. A diverse range of shops within the area should be maintained, so that the overall retail offer can cater for the needs of different sections of the community.
  • Development in the Town Centre must maintain the predominant commercial role of the area, with specific focus on retail and services on ground floors. These uses must be directed to the Town Centre in the first instance, then the Seven Sisters Road LSA.
  • The Specialist Shopping Area at Fonthill Road is a unique agglomeration of specialist clothing stores which adds significant value to the character and vitality of the Town Centre and wider area. This specialist shopping role must be strongly protected and enhanced. In line with protecting this function retail use, including at upper floors, will be strongly protected consistent with Policy R7.
  • Finsbury Park has potential to develop as an important location for additional business uses to supplement the provision in the CAZ, due to its excellent transport links to Central London and to the wider South East, and its relatively low rents. In order to realise this potential, diminution of office, research and development, light industrial, B2 and/or B8 uses will be resisted and further intensification of these uses, particularly units suitable for SME occupation and light industrial ‘maker space’, will be strongly encouraged.
  • Housing will come forward on sites allocated for housing, on upper floors within the town centre (outside of the Specialist Shopping Area) as well as windfall sites within the wider area.
  • Development of a street market will be supported, particularly on Fonthill Road, where it can be demonstrated that such expansion will enhance the vitality and viability of the area.
  • Finsbury Park has a rich offer of community uses and cultural spaces, which reflect its diverse and vibrant community. Development within Finsbury Park should seek to protect and enhance this community-based cultural and entertainment offer.
  • Leisure and night-time economy uses are a strong feature of the area, with a particularly distinct food scene. Strengthening the role of the area as a food destination is supported. Additional leisure and night-time economy uses must be directed to the Town Centre. Development proposals must ensure that adverse amenity impacts are prevented/mitigated.
  • Music venues are synonymous with the character of the area. Existing venues will be strongly protected and development of new music venues is supported.
  • Finsbury Park is one of the busiest transport interchanges in London outside Zone 1. New tunnels will connect the Thameslink service from Finsbury Park to London St. Pancras and provide increased connectivity to the wider South East of England. In order to absorb this increased rail capacity, the Council will work with relevant stakeholders – including Transport for London (TfL) – to identify further improvements to make the station fit for purpose; this should include fully step-free access. Options for enhancement/redevelopment of the station should explore options for intensification of development above the station.
  • Development must contribute to the creation of a high quality environment that is accessible to all residents, employees and visitors. New development should provide good connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists and should improve permeability and legibility within and across the Town Centre. In particular, access to retail areas such as Fonthill Road and to Finsbury Park itself should be improved.
  • Joint working with TfL will be undertaken to improve the pedestrian environment along Seven Sisters Road. There will be improved walking and cycling routes through the Finsbury Park area to Highbury Corner linking with wider routes into central London, to encourage walking and cycling for local residents, London Metropolitan University students and visitors to the Emirates Stadium.
  • The area’s key heritage assets include the Grade II* listed former Rainbow Theatre and the Grade II listed Church of St. Mark with St. Anne, which contribute significantly to Finsbury Park’s character and townscape and will be protected and enhanced. Development proposals must also conserve or enhance heritage assets including those in neighbouring boroughs where impacted.
  • Four sites in the Spatial Strategy area have been identified as potentially suitable for tall buildings over 30 metres.
  • Site Allocations within the Spatial Policy Area are expected to deliver 290 homes and 20,200sqm of office space over the plan period.

For more information please see the Islington Local Plan