Islington Council has reached a deal with the Government over its long-running battle to protect offices from being turned into expensive flats without planning permission.
The council had made an Article 4 Direction to stop conversions going ahead under the government’s new office-to-flats policy. Although the Government overturned the direction claiming the council had failed to meet its housing targets, it later reversed the decision in the face of a judicial review.
Planning minister, Brandon Lewis, has now agreed to a new Article 4 to protect the most important clusters of businesses and charities in the borough.
Islington Council's executive member for housing and development, Cllr James Murray, said: ‘We have said from day one that the Government’s office-to-flats policy is having a detrimental effect on Islington and, in fact, right across London. The extremely high value of flats in Islington meant that small businesses and charities were being evicted – and so today’s agreement is important as it means we will be able to protect many of them.’
Mr Lewis said: ‘With more mobile modern day working practices, and housing being in such demand, it makes sense to allow the free market to create new homes on brownfield land. In turn, such regeneration helps protect the countryside.
‘The steps I’m taking today ensure that Londoners can benefit from the steps we’ve taken to cut red tape and make it easier to deliver these new homes in Islington.’
