InfoIslington - Islington Reference Library

Decentralised Energy Strategy

A strategy for the long term delivery of decentralised energy in Islington produced by Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) in April 2010.

Islington Habitat Survey

In 1989 Islington’s wildlife habitats were surveyed as part of a London-wide survey commissioned by the Greater London Council. Islington Council commissioned Land Use Consultants in 2010 to resurvey those sites, as well as any other identified open spaces. The London Borough of Islington Habitat Survey records its findings.

 

 

The overall aim of the project was to inform planning policy in relation to biodiversity and green infrastructure, and inform the management of open space habitats. It involved surveying 560 sites, covering 244.8 ha (approximately 16% of the Borough). The outputs included:

 

 

 

 

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Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of all habitats surveyed, and an associated database including the survey findings.

 

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Identification of changes in the biodiversity resource over the last 22 years, including changes to Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs).

 

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Identification of potential new SINCs.

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A ‘SWOT’ analysis of the findings, identifying the strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities and threats for Islington’s open space habitats.

 

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Recommended key actions to enable the Borough to realise positive opportunities for habitat enhancement and to manage the threats.

Employment Clusters in Islington: a Review of Employment Studies Undertaken in 2005 and 2008

A comprehensive study of Islington’s economy and employment land supply was undertaken in 2005 by Atkins on behalf of the council. This was updated in 2008. These studies formed part of the evidence base for the borough’s Core Strategy, which was adopted in February 2011.

 

 

Employment projections undertaken in 2009 by the GLA forecast jobs growth of over 17% within Islington between 2011 and 2031. Only four London boroughs were forecast to have higher proportionate employment growth during the same period. Despite the economic downturn, employment growth was actually projected to be higher than previous GLA forecasts provided in 2007 (33,000 as opposed to 25,000 jobs). On average, the projections suggested growth of between 35,000 to 45,000 jobs.

between 2012 and 2027.

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of the Affordable Rent Product

This report was commissioned by the London Borough of Islington to examine the potential effects of the introduction of a new form of affordable housing, which is to be known as Affordable Rent (AR).

 AR is designed to replace social rented properties let at target rents and on secure tenancies. It will be let on tenancies of circa five years, with the property potentially then relet to another tenant if the incumbent is deemed no longer in need. More importantly, the rent will be set at “up to 80% of market rents”. The policy will cover new build properties and up to 50% of relets.

Under current policy conditions, “full” Housing Benefit will cover the rent irrespective of what level it is set at, minimising the impact (although it should be noted that a significant minority of new social housing tenants are in work and/or not in receipt of state aid). However, from 2013 the Government will introduce a household benefit cap set at the national average wage; those with benefit allocations exceeding this level will see their income docked by the excess, and many may not be able to make up the shortfall.

 

 

Evidence Base

The council has developed an extensive evidence base to inform the preparation of planning policy documents over the past few years. Key pieces of technical evidence can now be downloaded from one page of the new Council website here.

 

London Assembly Constituency Profiles

In the run up to the London elections in May, there is growing interest in the socio-demographic make up of the 14 London constituencies. This report provides a summary of demographic and related data for each Greater London Assembly constituency. The profiles are designed to provide an overview of each area by combining data on a range of themes. Each constituency is compared to equivalent statistics for Greater London. Along with the report, an interactive spreadsheet, and an InstantAtlas report have been produced.

Blog Address

If you are reading this then you will have found this blog. In the redesign of the Council website it was moved and  can now be found under:

 Islington Life

News and events

Join the Islington online community

 at: http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/news-events/onlinecommunity/Pages/default.aspx

Adult and Community Learning Courses Summer 2012

The summer 2012 brochure is out now and can be seen here.

Cultural Matters: a Cultural Strategy for Islington 2010-2015

Islington Council recognises and supports the intrinsic value of culture, the joy and benefit that culture brings to the lives of people for its own sake. However, the local authority has wider priorities and Islington Council also recognises the instrumental value of culture. Although culture is not a magic wand that can solve deep-seated issues on it’s own it can bond people and things together and help deliver on the Council’s wider agenda, improving the health and wellbeing of its residents, promoting skills and educational attainment, economic prosperity and community cohesion.

See the Strategy here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securing London’s water future: The Mayor’s Water Strategy

Securing London’s Water Future: the Mayor’s Water Strategy is the first water strategy for London and provides a complete picture of London's water needs. The strategy calls for organisations involved in the city's water management to:

• invest in a water management and sewerage infrastructure system that’s fit for a world class city and will create jobs
• support and encourage Londoners to take practical actions to save water, save energy and save money off their utility bills
• realise the potential of London’s sewerage as an energy resource to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• work in partnership with the Mayor, boroughs and communities to seek and develop opportunities to manage flood risk through enhancing London’s green spaces.