Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021
HC5 Supporting London’s Culture and Creative Industries
- The continued growth and evolution of London’s diverse cultural facilities and creative industries is supported. Development Plans and development proposals should:
- protect existing cultural venues, facilities and uses where appropriate and support the development of new cultural venues in town centres and places with good public transport connectivity. To support this, boroughs are encouraged to develop an understanding of the existing cultural offer in their areas, evaluate what is unique or important to residents, workers and visitors and develop policies to protect those cultural assets and community spaces
- identify and promote new, or enhance existing, locally-distinct clusters of cultural facilities, venues and related uses defined as Cultural Quarters, especially where they can provide an anchor for local regeneration and town centre renewal
- identify, protect and enhance strategic clusters of cultural attractions
- consider the use of vacant properties and land for pop-ups or meanwhile uses for cultural and creative activities during the day and at night-time to stimulate vibrancy and viability and promote diversity in town centres, Cultural Quarters and other areas
- seek to ensure that Opportunity Areas and large-scale mixed-use developments include new cultural venues and/or facilities and spaces for outdoor cultural events.
- Boroughs are encouraged to work with the Mayor and relevant stakeholders to identify Creative Enterprise Zones in Local Plans:
- in areas that have emerging or existing clusters of creative industries; or
- in areas of identified demand and more deprived areas where there is evidence that the designation of a Creative Enterprise Zone will enhance the local economy and provide facilities and workspace for the creative industries.
- Where a Creative Enterprise Zone has been identified, Local Plan policies should:
- develop, enhance, protect and manage new and existing creative workspace, providing flexibility for changing business needs, and an attractive business environment including related ancillary facilities
- support existing, and the development of new, cultural venues within the Creative Enterprise Zone
- help deliver spaces that are suitable, attractive and affordable for the creative industries, taking into account the particular requirements of established and emerging creative businesses in the Creative Enterprise Zone in accordance with Policy E2 Providing suitable business space, Policy E4 Land for industry, logistics and services to support London’s economic function and Policy E8 Sector growth opportunities and clusters
- encourage the temporary use of vacant buildings (including heritage assets) and sites for creative workspace and activities
- integrate public transport, digital and other infrastructure, and services such as leisure, recreation, education and community facilities in the establishment and development of the Creative Enterprise Zone
- support a mix of uses which derive mutual benefits from, and do not compromise, the creative industries and cultural facilities in the Creative Enterprise Zone in line with the Agent of Change principle (see Policy D13 Agent of Change)
- contribute to the achievement of wider objectives for the business location such as the economic vitality and diversity of a town centre or the intensification of an industrial area.
For more information please see The London Plan 2021