Chapter 9

Arts,
Entertainment
and Tourism

165

1.

INTRODUCTION

2.

LOCAL POLICY CONTENT

3.

THE COUNCILS STRATEGY

4.

THE DETAILED POLICIES

Promotion and Protection Of Arts and

Entertainment Uses
New Facilities

ART1

Retention of Existing Facilities

ART2

Use of vacant/short life property

ART3

Retention of other important land uses

ART4

Mixed Use Development

Encouraging Arts / Entertainment facilities
within the Central Area Zones

ART5

Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Areas

Definition and purpose

ART6

Tourist Accommodation
Location of major hotel development

ART7

Criteria for permitting major hotel development

ART8

Small hotels and guest houses

ART9

Development of Tourism
Encouraging Visitor facilities

166

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

ART10

Unitary Development Plan

TOWER HAMLETS

1.

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Defined widely, arts and entertainment

include popular forms as well as the more
esoteric. They include amateur, professional,
commercial and funded activity. Bookshops,
home video, personal keyboard instruments,
photographic retailers, evening classes, pubs
and clubs each play as much a part in peoples
cultural activities as the theatres, galleries and
museums that more readily spring to mind.

1.2

The potential of the arts and entertainment as

an integral part of community life is now
more widely recognised. They contribute not
only to the quality of life of local residents,
but also to the environment, economic
prosperity, employment, social development
and the creation of focal points for
communities.

1.3

1.4

1.5

The relationship between arts, entertainment

and tourism is a close one since cultural
attractions have been shown to be a powerful
magnet for tourism, while tourists provide
additional attenders and revenue for arts and
entertainment venues and attractions and
bring increased income into the local
economy.
The provision of arts, entertainment and
tourist facilities raise a number of local
planning issues, concerned primarily with
balancing probable benefits against any likely
nuisance and impact on local amenity. In
general, arts and entertainment facilities fall
within classes D1 and D2 of the 1987 Use
Classes Order, but they can also fall within
Classes A1 and A3 (Retail), B1 (Studio,
Workshop) and B2 (General Industry).
Arts, entertainment and associated facilities
may be used by all categories of visitors and
tourists alike. Visitors are usually defined as
being people away from home for less than
twenty-four hours; the purpose and duration
of their visits may range from a family day trip
to an evening at the pub, so many visitors will
be local people out within the Borough.
Tourists, who may come from Britain or
abroad, are those spending more than
twenty-four hours away from home; the
majority are on holiday, business or seeing
friends and relatives. From a town planning

TOWER HAMLETS

Unitary Development Plan

viewpoint it is generally unhelpful to

distinguish between different sorts of users of
commercial entertainment facilities, in that
this is a matter outside planning control; the
character of those attracted to a particular
pub, for instance, may change overnight with
a change of landlord. Tourists differ from
visitors only in requiring overnight
accommodation; thus, for the sake of
convenience, tourists are subsumed under the
general description visitors for the
purposes of this Chapter, except within the
Section on Tourist Accommodation.
1.6

Arts and entertainment facilities operate at a

number
of
overlapping
levels:
community/local, Borough-wide, interborough, metropolitan, regional, national and
international.

1.7

Arts and entertainments facilities therefore

often have complex functions. Catchment
area is a major criterion for identifying those
that are strategic. Conventionally, it is usually
assumed that facilities which draw visitors
from two or more boroughs are strategic.
Their strategic importance is not necessarily
linked to their size.

1.8

A strategically important arts, cultural or

entertainment facility is one which fulfils one
or more of the following criteria:
1.

It draws a significant proportion of its

visitors either from abroad, the rest of the
country, the rest of the South East
Region, London as a whole (these can be
considered higher level facilities); from a
sector of London, or from two or more
boroughs.

2.

It is unique to a sector of London in terms

of its:
a.
catering for specific groups e.g.
cultural minorities;
b.

accommodating special events; or

c.

having particular historic

associations.

Examples of higher level strategic facilities in

Tower Hamlets include the Tower of London,
Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood and the
Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

167

2.

Attractions

LOCAL POLICY CONTEXT

2.5

Among the Boroughs strengths in terms of

places to visit are its museums and galleries.
In common with most other areas, Tower
Hamlets has seen rapid changes in its
entertainment and allied facilities. Probably
one of the main weaknesses in the Borough is
the lack of venues for live entertainment or
evenings out. As music halls, theatres and
cinemas have closed down pubs, clubs and
restaurants have increased in numbers.

2.6

There are a number of major initiatives

underway or planned in Tower Hamlets which
are going to make the Borough an
increasingly important destination for visitors.
Proposals in the pipeline when implemented
will create a focus for arts, entertainment and
tourism in Docklands, these include: a
cinema, art gallery, museum, exhibition and
conference space together with a substantial
increase in hotel accommodation. To the east
of the Borough, the Council hopes to widen
the attractions to visitors of the canal and
waterway network, whilst in Bethnal Green,
the redevelopment of Spitalfields Market will
increase the number of visitors already
coming to that part of the Borough.

2.7

The development and change of arts,

entertainment and visitor facilities in the
Borough over the next few years seem likely
to result from several different pressures.
Particularly from a continuation of the trends
of: general increase in visitor activity; the
spreading of visitor activity away from
Central London; an increasing awareness and
appreciation of the attractions the Borough
has to offer and the continued evolution of
the provision of commercial entertainment
facilities in response to market trends.

2.8

This pressure seems likely to manifest itself in

several ways, particularly in terms of demand
for the intensification of entertainment and
allied facilities at existing centres; for the
development of new centres; for the
provision of more tourist accommodation,
especially hotels, hostels and self-catering
facilities; and for change of use in buildings
vacated as a result of market changes.

Economic
2.1

The Borough has a significant and growing

arts and cultural industry sector in economic
terms, focused in Bethnal Green, Wapping
and the Isle of Dogs. (Cultural industries
include
film,
video,
photography,
broadcasting, electronic music, publishing,
design and fashion). There is also a large
tradition of craft industries in the Borough
with Bethnal Green a focus for the visual arts.

2.2

The art, entertainment and tourism sectors

can provide a range of employment
possibilities at all skill levels. While
employment in the customer care services (in
areas such as retailing, hotel and catering) is
frequently characterised by low pay, low skills
and high staff turnover, employment in
businesses involved in cultural production
(design, media, press, TV and radio) often
offers well paid employment with long term
employment prospects.

2.3

Employment growth in tourism is one of the

few sectors of the economy in which the
number of manual jobs (both skilled and
unskilled) has risen. Employment is projected
to expand further with a high proportion of
this growth in demand being met by young
people and those from ethnic minority
communities. In common with London-wide
trends, creative businesses and arts services
are projected to emerge as a growth area in
the future.
Environment

2.4

168

The visual quality of the urban environment

and access to a diversity of cultural provision
are central to the quality of life of people
living and working in the Borough.
Developers and business people increasingly
regard the provision of arts/entertainment
facilities as valuable assets when looking at
potential locations for development. The
existence of such facilities will become
increasingly necessary to firms who wish to
attract and retain executives and key
personnel and will be an important
consideration for firms wishing to establish at
new locations.

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

Unitary Development Plan

TOWER HAMLETS

3.

THE COUNCILS STRATEGY

3.1

The Councils strategy seeks to develop the

provision of arts, entertainment and allied
visitor amenities and facilities, while ensuring
that the balance of advantage of such
development favours both the areas where
they are located and the Borough as a whole.

should include policies and specific

proposals for the maintenance, enhancement
and expansion of Londons artistic,
entertainment and cultural life.
3.4

The London and South East Planning

Conference in A New Strategy for the South
East similarly urges London Boroughs to
maintain Londons role as a centre of artistic
excellence.

3.5

Government in its Guidance stresses the

importance of tourism; UDP policies are
required to cater for its growth in appropriate
locations. A shortage of medium to low cost
accommodation is identified, so is a need to
encourage tourists to stay and travel outside
Central London. LPACs Advice broadly
agrees with Guidance but the need for
restraint in Central London receives greater
emphasis. Both Guidance and Advice stress
the need to take account of the
environmental impact of tourism.

3.6

A New Strategy for the South East

recommends that London Boroughs should
maintain and enhance the capitals tourist
attractions.

4.

THE DETAILED POLICIES

STRATEGIC POLICIES
ST41

TO

MAINTAIN

AND

ENHANCE

THE

QUALITY OF THE LOCAL BUSINESS AND

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BY RETAINING
EXISTING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
FACILITIES AND ENCOURAGING THE
PROVISION IN SUITABLE LOCATIONS OF
NEW HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES WHICH
ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL SECTIONS OF
THE COMMUNITY.
ST42

TO EXERCISE CAREFUL CONTROL OVER

THE IMPACT OF ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT
AND TOURIST USES ON THE AMENITY OF
RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE FLOW OF
TRAFFIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE
BOROUGH.

ST43

TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF HIGH

QUALITY PUBLIC ART AND CRAFT WORK
AS

MEANS

OF

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION

OF ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
USES

ENHANCEMENT.
ST44

TO

ENHANCE

TOWER

HAMLETS

ATTRACTIONS

TO

VISITORS

BY

ENCOURAGING

THE

PROVISION

OF

VISITOR

FACILITIES

ACCOMMODATION

AND
IN

TOURIST

APPROPRIATE

ART1

SUBJECT TO THE OTHER POLICIES AND

PROPOSALS OF THIS PLAN, FAVOURABLE
CONSIDERATION WILL NORMALLY BE
GIVEN TO DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

LOCATIONS.

WHICH THROUGH NEW DEVELOPMENT,

Justification
3.2

3.3

RE-DEVELOPMENT OR CHANGE OF USE,

In Guidance the Government makes no

specific mention of arts and entertainment
uses but does acknowledge London as a
centre for entertainment and culture and a
need for London Boroughs to reflect local
diversity and character. The contribution of
mixed use developments to achieve these
aims is acknowledged.
LPAC in Advice recommends that UDPs

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Unitary Development Plan

WILL

PROVIDE

ARTS

AND

ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES PROVIDED

THAT:
1.

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL
DEVELOPMENT
REQUIREMENTS
OUTLINED IN POLICIES DEV1 AND
DEV2;

2.

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT DOES

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

169

NOT CAUSE AN UNACCEPTABLE

LEVEL
OF
DISTURBANCE
OR
NUISANCE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA
(CONDITIONS PRESCRIBING HOURS
OF OPERATION MAY BE IMPOSED TO
ENSURE
THIS)
OR
WOULD
OTHERWISE SERIOUSLY DAMAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN
THE SURROUNDING AREA;
3

4.1

4.2

170

ALL NECESSARY SERVICING AND

PARKING MOVEMENTS CAN TAKE
PLACE OFF THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY
AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMPLIES
WITH PLANNING STANDARD NO 3;

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS

LOCATED ON A PUBLIC TRANSPORT
ROUTE AND IN THE CASE OF
FACILITIES CONSIDERED TO BE OF A
HIGHER LEVEL STRATEGIC NATURE,
WITHIN THE CENTRAL AREA ZONES
AS DEFINED ON THE PROPOSALS
MAP; AND

THE TRAFFIC GENERATED BY THE

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT
OVERLOAD THE SURROUNDING
ROAD NETWORK NOR PREJUDICE
ROAD SAFETY.

The development of arts and entertainment

facilities can yield considerable benefits. Arts
and Entertainment uses have a magnet value,
drawing local people and visitors to particular
locations, contributing to the vibrancy and
attractiveness of an out-of hours economy.
For example most performing arts, cinemas,
theatres, etc., concentrate upon evening
performances and help sustain restaurants,
pubs or wine bars, which serve the audience.
They also provide an outlet for the Boroughs
residents and workers leisure time and for
their different cultural aspirations. The
Council will therefore seek to enlarge the
range of facilities available.
Such development may come about as
specific proposals to the Council or as part of
a scheme dominated by some other main use,
for example when a cinema is proposed
within a shopping or office complex. The
minor proposals, such as bars, take-away

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

cafes or amusement arcades will primarily be

judged in terms of their impact on the
surrounding area. In the case of schemes of a
strategic nature, however, the Council
considers it important to direct them towards
particular localities, for three reasons:
1.

the convenience of their uses;

2.

to contain any adverse effects on local

environmental conditions; and

3.

to take concerted advantage

development opportunities.

of

4.3

It is impossible to specify detailed policies that

will be applicable to every sort of
entertainment and allied use in every place or
set of circumstances. Types of proposals
change over time; particular facilities may
change their character over time; a use that is
acceptable now may not be so in terms of
changed future circumstances; an activity
acceptable in daytime may be unbearable if
continued into the night-time hours.
Accordingly, Policy ART 1 outlines only the
general considerations that the Council will
take into account when determining any such
proposal.

4.4

Arts facilities should not be seen as only those

designed for public consumption, provision
also needs to be made for production (e.g.
artists studios, theatre company workshops or
recording studios), for both professionals and
amateurs. Provision is made for these facilities
in Chapter 4: The Economy and Employment.

ART2

PLANNING

PERMISSION

WILL

NOT

NORMALLY BE GIVEN FOR DEVELOPMENT

WHICH INVOLVES THE LOSS OF ARTS
AND

ENTERTAINMENT

WITHOUT

SUITABLE

FACILITIES,
REPLACEMENT,

WHERE A LOCAL NEED STILL EXISTS AND

THE BUILDING IS STILL CAPABLE OF
BEING PUT TO SUCH USE.
ART3

SO FAR AS IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER

PLAN

POLICIES,

DEVELOPMENT

PROPOSALS FOR THE REHABILITATION

OR CHANGE OF USE OF VACANT OLDER
OR

SHORT

LIFE

PROPERTY

(PARTICULARLY THOSE OF A SPECIALISED

Unitary Development Plan

TOWER HAMLETS

CHARACTER WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE

4.7

REMAIN UNUSED) FOR USES WHICH

SUSTAIN, ENHANCE OR DEVELOP ARTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE
BOROUGH,

WILL

NORMALLY

BE

PERMITTED.
4.5

4.6

ART4

Arts and entertainment facilities are an

important part of life in Tower Hamlets and
the loss of buildings put up for this purpose
can lead to a reduction in the variety and
liveliness of life in the Borough. While the
Council does not intend to try and resist
irreversible commercial trends, it does feel
that some protection of buildings specially
designed or suitable for arts and
entertainments use will help maintain these
uses against other possible pressures and will
seek to retain such buildings for possible
future use.

MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS

ART5

Apart from bringing employment and local

spending, arts and entertainment uses can
play a role in urban regeneration and trigger
a process of physical and environmental
renewal. New uses for derelict or vacant
buildings such as low cost workshops and
studios or temporary performance space will
be encouraged.
DEVELOPMENT

FOR

ARTS

2.

A RETAIL USE FROM A CORE AREA

LISTED IN THE SCHEDULES AND
SHOWN ON THE PROPOSALS MAP;

3.

EXISTING EMPLOYMENT GENERATING

FLOORSPACE EXCEPT WHERE ITS
LOSS SATISFIES THE CRITERIA OF
POLICY EMP2;

4.

AREAS DESIGNATED AS PUBLIC OR

PRIVATE OPEN SPACE; OR

5.

SITES IDENTIFIED AS BEING OF

ECOLOGICAL
IMPORTANCE
OR
CAUSE DAMAGE TO THEM.

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Unitary Development Plan

FACILITIES

WHICH

AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES IN THE

BOROUGH,
WHERE
PLANNING

WILL

BE

APPROPRIATE
BRIEFS

ENCOURAGED
THROUGH
AND

THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF A PUBLIC ARTS

POLICY OUTLINED IN POLICY DEV18.
4.8

The provision of arts and entertainment

facilities in mixed use developments, where
office, shops and other workplaces co-exist
with restaurants, galleries and entertainment
facilities open at night, can bring vitality to
otherwise
large
and
monolithic
developments. Similarly the benefits of arts
and entertainment activities to the
community can be enhanced if their provision
is integrated with other land uses e.g.
generating an evening economy in a town
centre; using public art to improve the
attractiveness of estates or shopping districts;
or extending the use of open space by
encouraging its use for performance arts.
planning obligations for the provision of arts
and entertainment facilities may be sought in
relation to large new devlopments where
appropriate under policy DEV4.

4.9

The provision of arts and craft work can be an

important means of improving the image and

LOSS OF:
A DWELLING STILL CAPABLE OF
RESIDENTIAL USE, USING THE
CRITERIA SET OUT IN POLICY HSG4;

OF

SUSTAIN, ENHANCE OR DEVELOP ARTS

RESISTED WHERE IT WOULD INVOLVE THE

1.

IN SUPPORT OF POLICY CAZ3 THE

PROVISION

AND

ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES WILL BE

While the Council is anxious to encourage the

development of arts and entertainment and
allied facilities in appropriate places, it is
equally concerned to ensure that such
development is not likely to cause or
compound amenity problems unduly; that it
is of an appropriately high standard of design;
that it is accessible, and that it offers a
sufficient balance of advantage both to the
locality and to the Borough as a whole.
Unregulated development of this sort can
lead to the general erosion of local amenity,
generating crowding, noise, litter, parking
problems and the like, as well as to far more
specific difficulties, such as the pressure that
hotel development proposals can put on the
local housing stock.

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

171

environment of an area, creating a sense of

civic pride and community identity. The
Council will encourage developers and
businesses to include arts and craft works as
an integral part of a development project, by
adopting the Arts Councils Percent for Art
Scheme. (See also Chapter 2: Environment).

environmental improvement. Initially focused

on key flagship facilities these can form
cultural quarters for the benefit of local
residents and businesses and London as a
whole.
4.11

ARTS, CULTURE AND

ENTERTAINMENT (ACE) AREA
ART6

SUBJECT TO THE OTHER POLICIES OF THIS

TOURIST ACCOMMODATION

PLAN, IN THE ARTS, CULTURAL AND

ENTERTAINMENT AREA DESIGNATED ON

SUBJECT TO THE OTHER POLICIES OF THIS

PLAN, FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION

WILL:

WILL

1.

ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF

A MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE RANGE OF
USES WHICH FOSTER ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE
BOROUGH;

PROPOSALS

THROUGH
AGREEMENT
WITH
DEVELOPERS AND CO-ORDINATION
WITH OTHER RELEVANT BODIES, SEEK
TO SECURE AND EXTEND THE
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
WHICH THESE QUARTERS OFFER;

PERMITTED WHERE THEY COMPLY WITH

3.

4.

172

ART7

THE PROPOSALS MAP, THE COUNCIL

2.

4.10

The Council has identified sites along the Mile

End Road (which have historically acted as a
focus for the arts) as suitable for
incorporation into an ACE Area and
developed.

THROUGH
NEGOTIATION
AND
AGREEMENT
SEEK
THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES WHICH
ACT AS A FOCUS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER ACTIVITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT; AND

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

FOR

DEVELOPMENT

BE

GIVEN

TO

MAJOR

HOTEL

OR

MORE

(30

BEDSPACES) WITHIN THE CENTRAL AREA

ZONES. OUTSIDE THESE ZONES, MAJOR
HOTEL

DEVELOPMENTS

MAY

BE

THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

1.

THE SCALE AND DENSITY OF THE

DEVELOPMENT IS APPROPRIATE TO
THE SURROUNDING AREA AND WILL
NOT IMPACT ADVERSELY ON THE
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, OR ON THE
AMENITY OF ADJOINING USES;

2.

THE SITE IS WELL SERVED BY PUBLIC

TRANSPORT AND WITHIN EASY
REACH OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT
INTERCHANGE FACILITIES;

3.

THE SITE HAS ADEQUATE ROAD

ACCESS AND CAN ACCOMMODATE
ALL NECESSARY SERVICING VEHICLES
AND OTHER VEHICLES, INCLUDING
THE CARRYING OUT OF SETTINGDOWN
AND
PICKING-UP
MOVEMENTS.THESE
MOVEMENTS
ARE TO BE OFF THE PUBLIC
HIGHWAY;AND

4.

THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT

ADVERSELY
AFFECT
EXISTING
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION OR
RESULT IN THE LOSS OF RESIDENTIAL
ACCOMMODATION.

SEEK TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY

OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
THROUGH
THE
USE
OF
CONTEMPORARY ART OR CRAFT
WORKS.

Experience in London and elsewhere has

demonstrated that activities such as galleries,
theatres, art studios and related facilities such
as cafes, clubs, recording studios and craft
workshops, which develop and consolidate in
synergy as a district with a distinctive
character, can be potent agents of
regeneration, economic development and

NORMALLY

Unitary Development Plan

TOWER HAMLETS

ART8

PROPOSALS

FOR

MAJOR

HOTEL

supply in London in comparison with other

great cities. Similarly, it makes no contribution
to meeting the shortfall in Londons supply of
camping and other youth accommodation.
This is despite the growing numbers visiting
attractions in the Borough; the proximity of
the City business area and growing demand
for business accommodation in Docklands;
despite the peak season shortage of hotel
space in Central London as a whole; and
despite the Governments policy of
decentralising tourist activity from the Central
Area.

DEVELOPMENT WILL BE EXPECTED TO

SATISFY THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
1.

COMPLY WITH THE CRITERIA OF

POLICY ART4;

2. ACCORD WITH THE GENERAL

DEVELOPMENT
REQUIREMENTS
OUTLINED IN POLICIES DEV1 AND
DEV2;
3.

4.

ART9

ALL NECESSARY SERVICING AND

PARKING MOVEMENTS, INCLUDING
COACHES AND OTHER VEHICLES
UNDERTAKING SETTING DOWN AND
PICKING UP MOVEMENTS, CAN BE
ACCOMMODATED
WITHIN
THE
CURTILAGE OF THE SITE; AND

4.13

HAVE NO ADVERSE IMPACT UPON

LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL OR TRAFFIC
CONDITIONS.

SMALL SCALE NEW DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT OR CHANGE OF USE TO

PROVIDE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION OR
GUEST HOUSES OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL
AREA

ZONES

WILL

NORMALLY

BE

DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM

PERMITTED WHERE:
1.

2.

4.12

THE DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT

INVOLVE THE LOSS OF A DWELLING
STILL CAPABLE OF RESIDENTIAL USE,
USING THE CRITERIA OF POLICY
HSG4;
THE PROPOSAL COMPLIES WITH
THE
GENERAL
DEVELOPMENT
REQUIREMENTS OF POLICIES DEV1
AND DEV2;

3.

THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS

LOCATED ON A PUBLIC TRANSPORT
ROUTE; AND

4.

THE AMENITY OF LOCAL RESIDENTS

WILL NOT BE HARMED.

At present Tower Hamlets contains few hotels

or guest houses, although if all proposals are
implemented the number of bedspaces
available in the Borough will rise significantly.
Currently the Borough makes little or no
contribution to the stock of cheap-to-medium
price accommodation which is in such short

TOWER HAMLETS

Unitary Development Plan

The Council supports the provision of tourist

accommodation in Tower Hamlets so far as
this is consistent with the other objectives and
policies of this Plan. In general, hotels can be
suitably located in similar locations to, and
often as a joint development, with major
leisure and visitor facilities. At the cheaper
end of the accommodation range, any
applications will receive sympathetic
consideration, where it would not result in the
loss of housing or damage to residential
amenity.

ART10 IN CONSULTATION WITH APPROPRIATE

BODIES (SUCH AS THE LONDON TOURIST
BOARD) THE COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE
THE

PROVISION

OF

TOURIST

INFORMATION CENTRES WITH OTHER

TOURIST RELATED DEVELOPMENT.
4.14

The Council is anxious to encourage tourism

and visitor activities in appropriate areas of
the Borough. It recognises the value of
providing visitors with adequate information
about the sights and attractions that Tower
Hamlets has to offer, both as a means of
stimulating, and as a way of guiding and
managing visitor interest and activity.
Accordingly it will encourage, at suitable
locations, signposts and public map displays
showing features and attractions of potential
interest to visitors; toilets; information points
and centres.

Chapter 9 - Arts, Entertainment and Tourism

173