Northcote RoadNorthcote Road - a unique shopping street

Something for everyone
Northcote Road runs from Battersea Rise to Broomwood Road. The street is a haven of diversity, with specialist shops and boutiques, complemented by market stalls. Shoppers can find everything they need, from fishmongers and butchers to aromatherapy shops and bakers.

DovesMany of the shops have a long history of trading in the street. Dove Butchers has been there since 1889 and has been handed down through generations. Apart from the boutiques and specialist stores the street offers boasts dozens of cafes, restaurants and eateries.

Child-friendly café Crumpet is always popular with families and with its delicious cakes, organic baby food and play area complete with traditional wooden toys for children, it is easy to see why. The owner uses fresh locally-sourced food with local mums baking his cakes and cheese from Hamish Johnston.

There's also the market stalls which are as varied as the shops behind them - stocking anything from vintage, one-off clothes, to fresh bread, sandwiches and pastries.

The plant and flower stall is also popular while another stall does a roaring trade in olives, sun-dried tomatoes and other delicacies.

Bars on Northcote RoadIn the evenings there's a lively social scene. There's something for everyone from the cosy atmosphere of the Holy Drinker with its open fire and reclaimed theatre seats, to swanky cocktail bar, Iniquity and the lively Babel.

Today's businesses offer a variety of high quality shopping opportunities and give Northcote Road its unique charm

Find out about the history of Northcote Road

Visit www.ilovenorthcoteroad.org 

A victim of its success?
Today the friendly neighbourhood feel of the street is under threat. While national planning policies appear to be moving in favour of the big stores a number of local independents are concerned at the prospect of rising rents as landlords try to cash in on the area's undoubted popularity.

The fear is that only the big national chains would be able to afford the higher rents. The smaller traders who make the road so unique may soon no longer be able to afford to stay.

Larger stores could buy up two or three shop fronts and knock them into one shop - currently councils have no planning powers to prevent this.

Northcote Road could then become an extension of St John's Road with its high street stores. No one who has been involved in the success of the area wants that to happen.

Planning controls
We are currently reviewing our Local Development Framework (LDF). This sets out the main planning policies for the borough and has a particular focus on the role of town centres and local shopping parades.

We have for many years fought to keep big retail stores in main high streets. We opposed the new Tesco at Clapham South in the courts before being given the go ahead by the former environment secretary Stephen Byers who overruled his own planning inspector.

When they are sited in the heart of a town centre these big stores are a positive presence - but when they set up in a secondary parade away from established centres they simply bring more traffic onto the roads. They can also draw custom away from small local shops and undermine nearby town centres.

The LDF review provides an opportunity to consider the effectiveness of these major policies and the impact of changing circumstances in individual areas like Northcote Road.

This review is looking at issues affecting Northcote Road like the protection of smaller shops and the loss of some retail units to office uses in the middle part of the street.

An action plan for Northcote Road
Following discussions with residents and local businesses we have published an action plan for tackling the issues facing Northcote Road.

The plan looks at the potential for forming a new community trust which could manage and invest in the street and preserve its unique character.

There will also be a full survey of local shoppping habits and consideration of street design improvements that could create a more pedestrian-friendly environment

pdf icon Northcote Road action plan

Retail study
We commissioned URBED (www.urbed.com) - an independent research group specialising in urban regeneration - to carry out a six month study of Northcote Road.

With so much national concern about the fate of specialist shopping areas like Northcote Road the study's findings are sure to attract wide interest.

The URBED consultants talked to residents, traders, shopper and landlords to work out the best way forward for the street.

pdf icon Sustaining Northcote Road as a special place (5 mb)

Much of the work focused on property issues and retail opportunities. A further set of consultants - Colin Buchanan and Partners - will develop new design options for improving the use of road space here. This could bring better facilities for local shoppers.

The study also looked at different models for managing this unique shopping street.

As part of this study Buchanan's were commissioned to review the streetscape of Northcote Road. You can download a copy of their final report.

pdf icon The essence of Northcote Road streetscape analysis (3.8 mb)

Help for businesses
The council's economic development office has helped secure loans and grants for around 50 local business in the last ten years.

Town centre improvement grants are an excellent way of helping a business improve or extend its premises or provide a smart new shop front.

The scheme provides cash help ranging from 1,000 to £15,000.

For advice on the grants scheme call the town centre manager Lorinda Freint on 020 7627 3182 or email at: lfreint@wandsworth.gov.uk

Find details of how to contact Northcote ward councillors

The economic development office is continuing to support initiatives that help to keep the market thriving including improved signage, new bollards and a variety of marketing and promotional activities.

Northcote Road stalls

Northcote Business Network
Curnock Cook of Boiled Egg and Soldiers runs the Northcote Business Network. This has members in Northcote Road and Webbs Road who come together regularly to discuss local issues.

Every year the Network fund-raises to support the cost of the street's festive lights and hanging baskets. The money generated from business is always matched by the council.

Sara is also Chair of the Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership Board, which is supported and funded by the Council.

Businesses interested in joining the Network can call Sara on 020 7223 4894.

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