Licensing Policy Consultation

Statement of licensing policy renewal

The council is currently in the process of renewing its statement of licensing policy as the five year cycle for our current policy comes to an end in July 2022. Let us know what types of licensed premises you want in your area or what licensing issues are causing you concern.

This policy applies to any premises which sells or provides alcohol, entertainment, or late night refreshment within Hammersmith & Fulham. It sets out the rules the council will consider when granting and enforcing licences, and lets businesses know how we expect them to operate. It also informs our decision at any licensing committees when deciding whether to issue, amend or revoke licences.

The core aim of our policy is to promote the four licensing objectives, as set out in the Licensing Act 2003. These are as follows:

• prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• prevention of public nuisance
• protection of children from harm

The new draft licensing policy has been updated to reflect recent changes to the law and guidance on licensing. We have also introduced three key themes in the policy which are as follows :

• A sustainable, well-run licensed sector;
• Hammersmith and Fulham as a good place to live, work and enjoy leisure; and,
• A safe licensing environment and night-time economy.

We would welcome feedback on whether these themes are relevant and clear.

The new policy has been designed to be more easily accessed and used for businesses, residents and other interested parties with clear policies to outline the expectations of the council on specific issues.

The policy does keep two special policy areas (known as cumulative impact areas) in Shepherds Bush and Fulham from our previous policy. These areas have been found to suffer from antisocial behaviour caused by licensed premises operating in the area. The policies mean that anyone in these areas who applies for a new, or later licence, would have to prove that they would not add to the current problems before a licence is granted.

Why are we consulting?

We are legally required to carry out a consultation on our policy at least every five years. We also want to ensure that any new policy is fair and reflects the needs of residents and businesses alike. We also want to make sure it is fully inclusive, taking into account the concerns of all areas of the community who use or interact with our licensed premises. We think that our current draft policy strikes this balance, but we would like your views on this.

Have your say

Please share your thoughts before the consultation closes on the 24 June 2022 via the online survey at the bottom of this page.

The following documents have also been added at the right hand side of this page which we would suggest reviewing before completing the survey. These are as follows:

• A summary of the key changes in the new policy
• The current licensing policy 2017 - 2022
• The new draft licensing policy for 2022 - 2027

UPDATE - Please note that the data for the Council's cumulative impact policies in Shepherd's Bush and Fulham Broadway (a cumulative impact assessment) has now been included to the right hand side of this page.

If you have any questions about this consultation please contact the licensing team at licensing@lbhf.gov.uk