Wandsworth Council will approve new licensing restrictions for late-night venues along Putney High Street, following a public consultation that revealed strong backing from local residents.
The proposals—formally known as a Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) [pdf]—will make it harder for new businesses or existing ones looking to extend their hours to operate past 11pm without strict conditions in place.
The new rules, set to be adopted next week, won’t affect existing pubs, bars or off-licences unless they apply to vary their licences. But new applicants hoping to sell hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am will now face a presumption of refusal unless they can clearly demonstrate how they will tackle noise, litter, rowdy behaviour, and customer safety.
It means any new business aiming to operate late at night will have to include detailed plans for crowd dispersal, street cleaning, door security, and managing disturbances—particularly in the area around Putney Station, where reports of anti-social behaviour are most concentrated.
Residents call for action – and the council responds
The move comes after a borough-wide consultation launched in March. Putney stood out from the other affected areas—Clapham Junction and Tooting Broadway—for the sheer strength of feeling expressed by local residents.
While in Clapham Junction just 32% of respondents agreed that a special policy was needed, and in Tooting only 24% supported it, in Putney that figure rose to a striking 74%. Only 14% of Putney respondents opposed the idea.
Many Putney locals also described their frustration with the state of the High Street after dark.
It’s a nightmare after midnight—shouting, fights, taxis blocking traffic, food all over the pavement.
Every morning the street smells like vomit and beer. It’s disgusting.
I don’t feel safe as a woman walking through that area after 11pm.
Putney doesn’t need any more chicken shops. It needs peace and sleep.
By contrast, most respondents in Clapham Junction and Tooting either had no opinion or stated they were unaware of any problems. The council’s report notes that “the majority of those that responded…broadly indicated that they had no view.”
Crime stats tell a more complex story
Despite this strength of local feeling, the crime statistics present a more nuanced picture.
Between December 2023 and November 2024, Putney recorded 576 crimes and 276 anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents—placing it behind Clapham Junction (828 ASB reports) and Tooting Broadway (508), but still among the highest in the borough.
The vast majority of ASB incidents in Putney—over 80%—were classed as “rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour”, with most clustered around the top of the High Street near the Exchange Shopping Centre and Putney Station.
The area also saw a high number of alcohol-related ambulance callouts between 11pm and 1am on weekends, adding to the case for tighter controls.
Businesses raise red flags over regulation
While residents were vocal in their support, the council admits that feedback from businesses was limited. However, those that did respond expressed concerns about overregulation and its effect on the local economy.
One respondent warned that the new policy could “create a hostile environment for independent businesses,” while another said it might “push new operators to other boroughs with fewer restrictions.” One submission criticised the council for “stifling diversity and choice in the evening economy.”
The report stops short of addressing these concerns directly, though it acknowledges that most respondents were residents rather than traders.
Missing strategy links—and murky numbers
Another omission that has raised eyebrows is the lack of reference to Wandsworth’s Night Time Strategy, published in 2023. That document outlined ambitions to create a “vibrant, safe and inclusive night-time economy” across the borough. But the new licensing policy appears to have been developed in isolation, with no attempt to reconcile the two strategies.
There’s also an issue with the report’s oft-repeated claim that Putney has the “highest concentration of licensed premises in the borough”—a figure stated as 191. Closer analysis reveals that only 68 licensed premises are located on Putney High Street itself—and many of those don’t operate at night or sell alcohol, with Waitrose and Le Lotus nail bar as just two exaomples.
That raises questions about whether the problem is one of scale, or if it’s really about a handful of problematic venues and a lack of targeted enforcement.
What’s changing—and what’s not
In real terms, the new policy will not change the licensing status of any existing business. But it does raise the bar for anyone looking to open a new late-night venue, or extend existing hours. Future applicants will be expected to show detailed operational plans addressing risks that residents have flagged.
It may not change Putney’s nightlife overnight—but it will give the council, police and residents a stronger hand in shaping what comes next.
Over to you, Putney
Do you think the new policy will help clean up the High Street after dark?
Is it a sensible precaution—or overreach that risks hollowing out the evening economy?
We want to hear your views. Let us know what you think in the comments or by contacting the editorial team.
