Special licensing policy: Clapham High Street
At a Council meeting on 9 November 2011, an amendment to our Statement of Licensing Policy was adopted in respect of the area around Clapham High Street.
The special licensing policy (also known as a cumulative impact policy) will apply to all applications for new premises licences and club premises certificates, and major variations of existing licences and certificates, received after 10 November 2011.
The policy was adopted following a request from the Metropolitan Police, based upon evidence as to high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour being linked with licensed premises in the area, and after consultation with local residents, businesses and representative groups.
Effect of the special licensing policy
All applications for premises licences and club premises certificates are subject to public consultation, and representations can be made within a 28-day period after the application was received by the council.
If any relevant representations are made against an application, it will be referred to a public hearing for consideration by our Licensing Sub-Committee.
Under the special licensing policy, the Sub-Committee will refuse any application for premises within the area covered by the policy, unless the applicant can demonstrate that the application will not result in a negative impact on any of the licensing objectives.
Any applications that do not attract any relevant representations, or where all relevant representations are withdrawn, will be granted automatically, without a hearing, in accordance with our legal obligations under the Licensing Act 2003.
Area of the special licensing policy zone
The special licensing policy applies to an area that includes the full length of Clapham High Street, and most of its side streets including Voltaire Road, Stonhouse Street, Venn Street, Lendal Terrace, Aristotle Road, Cato Road, Tremadoc Road, St Luke's Avenue and The Pavement. The area also includes parts of Bedford Road, Edgeley Road, Clapham Manor Street, Old Town, Clapham Common South Side and Clapham Park Road.
Please see our map of the Clapham High Street special licensing policy zone for details of the full extent of the area.
Review of the special licensing policy
The special licensing policy will be reviewed within two years of adoption to see if it is still necessary or if changes to the designated policy area need to be made. The policy is part of a larger action plan, developed by the council and its partner organisations, to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.