Managing the Night Time Economy

Best Practice Guidance
March 2007

This Best Practice Guide (BPG) builds on the Entertainment Management Zone concept set out in Policy 3D.4 of the London Plan. The policy states that borough policies should “where appropriate, support evening and night-time entertainment activities in central London, City fringe areas and town centres and where appropriate manage their impact through policies such as Entertainment Management Zones”. The BPG provides advice to local planners, licensing officials, those involved in town centre management, environmental health and law enforcement, and others concerned with the management of those areas of London where there are concentrations of bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants.

The BPG promotes a proactive and strategic approach to the management of areas of night-time activity in order to reduce impacts such as anti social behaviour, noise, disturbance and cumulative impacts, and to ensure they are dealt with in an integrated manner. It gives particular emphasis to developing a consistent and complementary approach across a range of policy and implementation areas. This proactive approach can help to manage the impacts, reduce costs and allow growth in appropriate locations and contribute to the regeneration and enhancement of London’s town centres. The BPG aims to maximise the positive benefits of a diverse night time economy and its contribution to London’s status as a world city.

BPG: Managing the Night Time Economy PDF
BPG: Managing the Night Time Economy RTF

A public consultation on the draft version of this BPG was undertaken between June and September 2006. Amendments and updates were made to the final version of the BPG in response to the comments received.

Figures 7.2, A2.3-6 and A2.10 from the BPG are also supplied as separate files at higher resolution:

• Figure 7.1 London’s Network of Town Centres PDF
• Figure A2.3 Employment in Drinking and Dining by Ward PDF
• Figure A2.4 Floorspace in London’s Town Centre Network PDF
• Figure A2.5 Restaurants and Licensed premises turnover PDF
• Figure A2.6 Restaurants and Licensed premises employment PDF
• Figure A2.10 Night Time Economy Areas of Importance PDF

An Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) has been carried out on the Best Practice Guide. The summary report is available for download below.

BPG: Night Time Economy EQIA summary PDF
BPG: Night Time Economy EQIA summary RTF

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