Hounslow Council is set to review its Statement of Licensing Policy, including the potential retention, modification, or removal of the 'Cumulative Impact Area' (CIA) for licensed premises. The decision follows an updated research report and public consultation, as the council aims to balance economic development with community safety. The Licensing & General Purposes Committee will make recommendations to the Borough Council for adoption.
The review, scheduled for discussion at the Licensing & General Purposes Committee meeting on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, focuses on the Statement of Licensing Policy (SoLP) and associated Cumulative Impact Research. The current policy is due to expire in October 2025, as the Licensing Act 2003 requires the council to review its SoLP every five years. The council will also link the draft SoLP to strategies for crime prevention and public safety, planning, cultural activities, gambling and public health, seeking proper integration while avoiding duplication of other regulatory regimes.
The draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2025 builds upon changes implemented in 2020 and proposes strengthening the link between licensing and other council policies, such as the Hounslow Local Plan and Community Safety Strategy. Key proposed changes include making the policy more concise and locally focused, adding new sections that reflect a wider range of council policies, and incorporating a more detailed use of the Local Plan, with sections on each town centre.
The existing Cumulative Impact Assessment Research report covers three cumulative impact areas: Hounslow Town centre, Heston and Cranford. The Licensing Committee will decide whether to retain, modify, or remove the cumulative impact area, based on the updated research report and following the public consultation. The assessment must be reviewed every three years and provides the evidence base to show where the cumulative impact of licensed premises has negatively affected the licensing objectives. The updated Hounslow CIA Research Report 2024 uses evidence related to crime and ASB, LAS and public health data, street drinking hotspots, and licensed premises to justify any changes. For example, the report states that in Hounslow Town Centre, violence, sexual crime, public order, drug offences, theft and robbery are consistently the highest of any location in the borough. It also notes the increase in street drinking hotspots in Hounslow Town Centre, Heston and Cranford.
Possible modifications to the existing Cumulative Impact Areas include changing their boundaries or the type of licenses to which they apply. The report also suggests examining whether the eastern end of the Hounslow Town Centre CIA Area is still justified.
The report pack included a summary of the results of the public consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2025. According to the Summary Engage HQ Report of Consultation Responses, respondents were generally supportive of the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2025, believing it would support the licensing objectives. However, opinions were divided on whether the Cumulative Impact Assessment (if continued) would support those objectives.
The draft Statement of Licensing Policy sets out the principles to be applied when considering licence applications under the Licensing Act 2003 by The London Borough of Hounslow. The draft Cumulative Impact Research Report states that cumulative impact is a proper matter that a licensing authority (Hounslow Council) can consider under the Licensing Act 2003.
Councillor Farhaan Rehman, Chair of the Licensing & General Purposes Committee, will lead the meeting. Councillors Harleen Atwal Hear, Rasheed Bhatti, Dan Bowring, Unsa Chaudri, Richard Foote, Gabriella Giles, Riaz Gull, Allan Joseph, Karamat Malik, Amritpal Mann, Gerald McGregor, Aftab Siddiqui, Karen Smith and Mohammed Umair are also expected to be in attendance.
