Richmond's new licensing policy adds extra checks on Richmond Green and the riverside and keeps the town centre limits. The Mayor of London wanted both dropped.

Anyone applying to sell alcohol or run late-night events on Richmond Green or along Richmond riverside will face extra scrutiny under the council’s new licensing policy.

The draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2027 to 2032 names both places as “Areas of Special Interest and Consultation”. It also keeps the limits on new licences in Richmond and Twickenham town centres.

The Mayor of London had asked the council to drop both measures.

The policy went to the council’s Regulatory Committee on Tuesday 3 November. The council had not published the committee’s decision when we checked on 6 November. Full Council is due to adopt the policy on 8 December 2026.

What changes on Richmond Green and the riverside

The committee report explains where the idea came from. The council asked during consultation whether any other parts of the borough had problems with crime, disorder or nuisance.

Respondents named three places:

  • Richmond Green
  • Twickenham Green
  • Twickenham Stadium

Officers then went to the council’s community safety team. A report from the South Richmond Police Liaison Group lists these as hot spots for alcohol and drug related antisocial behaviour:

  • Richmond Green
  • Richmond Riverside
  • Richmond Station
  • Water Lane
  • St Mary Magdalene churchyard

The last three already sit inside the Richmond town centre cumulative impact area. So officers proposed adding only Richmond Green and Richmond Riverside. Twickenham Green and the stadium are not included.

The draft policy says the two areas are part of an action plan that has been running “for over six years” on drink and drug related antisocial behaviour and safeguarding.

What it means for applicants

An area of special interest is not a ban. It is lighter than a cumulative impact area, where the council presumes against new licences. Under section 12 of the draft, applicants in these areas are expected to:

  • read the council’s information pack on the issues in that area
  • contact the police, environmental health and other responsible authorities early
  • submit a full application and show their site is suitable

If nobody objects, the licence is granted as applied for. Shops and supermarkets in these areas would also be held to the cumulative impact policy, the draft says.

The Mayor of London’s objections

The council received seven responses online and four by email. The email responses came from the Friends of Richmond Green, the Mayor of London, the council’s own noise team and the Rugby Football Union. All are published in Appendix C.

The Mayor’s response recommends that Richmond:

  • “Removes the Areas of Special Interest policy”
  • “Removes the presumption against granting licences in a Cumulative Impact Area”
  • reviews whether its cumulative impact policy is “a barrier to economic growth”
  • adopts “a clearer, more positive approach to economic growth”

Greater London Authority officers also reviewed the evidence behind the town centre limits. They said it showed licensed premises and harms in the same places, but gave “limited insight” into whether the premises caused the harms.

The Friends of Richmond Green took the opposite view. The group, which says it covers about 350 households, supported the cumulative impact policy. It said “Richmond town is saturated with licensing premises” and that growth “should not be applied as a blanket need”.

The RFU asked for the policy to recognise Allianz Stadium and its role in the local economy. It said the stadium supports almost 1,300 local jobs.

Other changes in the policy

The draft also adds new sections on:

  • Ask for Angela and violence against women and girls
  • Martyn’s Law, the counter-terrorism duty on venues
  • delivery drivers, asking licence holders to make sure they behave responsibly
  • alcohol deliveries, so alcohol is only delivered to people over 18
  • white collar and charity boxing, which must follow the England Boxing rule book
  • generators and their environmental impact

What it means for you

  • Residents near the Green or the riverside: applicants there will be expected to show how they will deal with the area’s known problems. Anyone can comment on a new licence application during its consultation period.
  • Businesses: if you plan to apply in either area, talk to the police and licensing team before you submit.
  • The final vote is at full Council on 8 December. The Regulatory Committee papers are online.

Richmond Green was also at the centre of October’s licensing hearing on the Marzamemi festival: see our report on the council’s decision.