DON’T LET ISLINGTON COUNCIL STOP THE FUTURE GROWTH OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
The future of the creative industries in Tileyard London is at risk.
When you sign the petition this message will be sent to Islington Council.
Subject: Consultation on the Islington Borough Council draft Local Plan Proposed Submission (Regulation 19)
We write in response to the Consultation on the Islington Borough Council draft Local Plan Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) and to express our concern about the impact this proposal will have on the expansion of creative industries along with Tileyard London within this area.
We are deeply concerned for the future of the creative industries, the space for SMEs in the borough and the impact on employment creation for Islington residents.
We strongly oppose the proposal on Policy SP3 concerning the Vale Royal / Brewery Road Locally Significant Industrial Site ('LSIS') that:
“any proposal which introduces additional offices, regardless of whether there is existing office use on-site, and which does not result in the building being in predominantly industrial use, will be refused.”
We oppose this change from the policy position of the current Local Plan. The change, if adopted, will prevent the growth of jobs in creative industries based in the area and goes against a number of other council policies as outlined through the Fairness Commission and Employment Commission.
The proposal is also contrary to the policies of the London Plan which promotes intensification of use, co-location and the economic strength, productivity and opportunity that comes from creative clusters.
We further oppose Islington’s draft plan which seeks to limit intensification of uses and limit the height of new developments to under 30 metres. The proposed policies also do not conform with the desired objectives of the London Plan in respect of shared workspaces, multiple business uses and co-location.
We believe that the current Local Plan provides sufficient protection of industrial sector interests whilst balancing the interests and needs of other important local businesses, SMEs and creative companies. The proposed policy change will restrict growth and restrict opportunity and is totally unnecessary.
Therefore, we urge Islington to reconsider its draft Local Plan, especially the approach to the LSIS. Section C of Policy SP3 should be completely removed from the draft Local Plan.
We support the development of a Creative Enterprise Zone (as per the forthcoming London Plan) and we believe that Islington should enhance the LSIS by developing this.
A Creative Enterprise Zone around the southern part of the LSIS (e.g. south of Brandon Road) would deliver upon Islington’s wider social goals, especially around employment and marginalised communities.
A Creative Enterprise Zone in the LSIS would achieve:
- Significant new local employment and economic opportunities for an important sector of the economy as recognised by draft policy HC5 in the London Plan. The density of employment, especially for local people, at Tileyard is significantly higher than the rest of the LSIS. More industrial / warehouse space rather than co-working space in this part of the LSIS would deliver fewer jobs.
- The shift from industrial and warehouse activity to co-location (music studios, music production and creative office space) has already happened here and this incredible creative cluster, one of London’s most important, is an asset that should be protected and nurtured. Further shifts from industrial uses to B1 creative space may not require planning permission and so Council policy should recognise how this area is changing for the better.
- Tileyard London is already a discrete geographical quarter in the LSIS and this area has already changed into a creative quarter providing opportunities and jobs in this ever important sector of the economy as recognised by draft policy HC5 in the London Plan.
- The rest of the LSIS along Blundell Road and Brewery Road is a significant cluster of industrial and warehouse uses that is not suitable for change to space for creative industries, so demarking these two distinct areas better would help aid planning policy.
- Significant positive impact to deliver upon the Council’s other stated aims in particular the policy recommendations of the Fairness Commission and the Employment Commission.
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Islington Council’s current local plan protects industrial land uses in the Borough but also supports other employment-generating uses.
The new draft Local Plan however seeks to change usage that is not considered industrial and would mean that the massive growth of creative industries and the huge rise in employment opportunities for the people of Islington is stopped.
Opportunities for small businesses to thrive and grow alongside like-minded companies would be thwarted by the new proposals - curtailing entrepreneurial spirit and restricting future work opportunities for Islington’s young people.
You have the chance to make Islington reconsider their draft Local Plan, by getting councillors to oppose it.
At present, the area from Tileyard Road to Blundell Street is the home of Tileyard London, one of the world’s largest collection of music studios and creative spaces. Tileyard currently provides over 1,000 jobs, including many for Islington residents.
Young people from across Islington right now are getting their first breaks in the music industry at Tileyard London.
Tileyard London only works because it is a cluster: producers meet song-writers, artists meet record labels, young people get access to some of the most senior people in the music industry and can build their careers. This ecosystem cannot just be replicated across multiple sites so Tileyard needs to be able to grow where it is along with the other creative businesses situated close by.
Instead of decent paid creative jobs for our young people, the Council’s proposals on industrial use will encourage zero hours contract jobs and low paid work in the area. This will bring even more air pollution to the local area along and will mean more heavy goods vehicle traffic traveling through the Borough.
We are calling on Islington Council to drop their draft proposals that will promote industrial usage over the creative industries and to work instead with the Mayor of London to designate the area around Tileyard London as a Creative Industries Zone. More creative industries will mean more jobs contributing more to the local economy as well as reducing pollution and safeguarding future jobs for young people.
The Council’s Proposal would mean:
- Fewer jobs for everyone
- Lower paid jobs for everyone
- Limited opportunities for everyone
- Even more pollution for Islington residents
- Less career opportunities for Islington’s young people
- Damaging the future prospects for local people
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