Action to protect Islington's high streets from being lost to expensive homes

In April 2021, the Government amended Permitted Development Rights to allow a change of use from Class E business, commercial and service use to residential (Class C3) without the need for planning permission. Class E includes shops, restaurants, estate agents, offices, museums and indoor sports facilities.

This amendment caused uncertainty for the local businesses that make up the borough’s commercial hubs, which were already in need of support due to the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the need to adapt to changing consumer habits. The changes also made it difficult for the council to ensure all new housing development provides genuinely affordable homes.

To rectify this, the council proposed four restrictions to permitted development – called non-immediate article 4 directions - in August 2022. The directions cover sites in four economically significant areas:

• Parts of Kings Cross and Angel that fall inside London’s Central Activities Zone
• Vale Royal and Brewery Road
• Camden Passage
• Fonthill Road

The directions, as proposed, were consulted on last year and in July 2023 the council confirmed the decision to make the directions. These will come into force on Thursday 31 August.

Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Deputy Leader of Islington Council and Executive Member for Finance, Planning and Performance, said: “We were very disappointed by the Government’s decision to change planning regulations, allowing property developers to buy up properties on our high streets and turn them into what would likely be poor quality and expensive homes. These regulations let property owners bypass our planning policies that require all housing development in the borough to provide genuinely affordable homes – so they end up pricing out local businesses and don’t help us to fix the housing crisis that we are tackling in Islington.

“These changes posed a severe threat to our local economy so I am pleased that we have been able to protect the shops, cafes and restaurants that make Islington such a great place to live, work and visit.

“We will keep working to ensure that Islington has a thriving economy that works for local people and businesses, making the borough a more equal place.”