I feel compelled to write to you to raise my concerns with revised proposals of the

landscape works to the Canonbury Tavern. As a recent member to the Canonbury

community and as an Architect I am truly taken aback by the unsympathetic landscape

design proposals to this fine example of a Georgian Inn.

There are a number of grounds I have objections to these proposals as listed below:

The extent of the hard landscaping will result in loss of natural habitat for fauna

(including a habitat in which aphids, invertebrates and other insects can settle or provide

a feeding source for their survival) and decreasing biodiversity (the loss of provision of a

living habitat for some natural colonisation by native plants whilst also providing a habitat

for birds and small animals, thus discouraging a wider spread of species in the area)

Hard landscaping is now recognised to be a contributory factor to environmental change

and something which has had an adverse impact on water resources, particularly in the

South East of England and Greater London.

The hard landscaping will increase in rainwater runoff impacting on storm water

management. It will :

- influence micro-climate potentially raising temperatures and light levels due to the

Albedo Effect

- reduce air quality, the loss of vegetation will prevent the retention and reduction of

gaseous pollutants and dust particles. In addition, there will be a reduction of natural

evaporation of water from the plants and soil which in normal circumstances helps to

cool and humidify the air, so lowering the ambient temperature and reducing the heat

island effect.

Given that the Canonbury Tavern is a listed building in a conservation area the use of

the proposed hard landscaping materials are totally unsympathetic. The proposed

Bradstone textured paver is a moulded replica of natural flagstones. These composite

yellow pavers are particularly inappropriate. There would be a public outcry if LBI were

to use this type of paver within a Conservation Area! A more traditional material such as

York Stone would be far more appropriate and the objection on the grounds of expense

is irrelevant to this. I understand the developer has raised concerns as to the slip

resistance of such a material, such claims are utterly unfounded and simply untrue.

There are some exemplar schemes utilising York Stone paving including the recent

redevelopment of the public space at Duke of York Square, Chelsea and not least the

recent external works carried out to Islington Town Hall. In addition there are other

natural materials available with a riven or flamed finish that provide excellent slip

resistance, including granite, limestone or basalt that are in keeping with the appearance

of this fine listed Georgian building.

Moreover the proposal of Millboard replica oak plastic decking [this material is

manufacturered from Lastane – a Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyurethane Plastic] as the

other hard landscaping is totally inappropriate in a Conservation Area.

I would be supportive of the use of such materials in a Disney theme park but not for

works to a listed Georgian builiding within a Conservation Area, incidentally I note with

alarm The Canonbury has installed twinkling ‘fairy lights’ to the fruit trees!

Finally I have concerns of the raised boxed seating area around the Tree of Heaven and

question with this is helping or hindering the health of the tree, moreover the structure

directly and unsympathetically abuts the cast iron railings. I would query whether this

structure is contravening Building Regulations as the balustrade height is below the

required 1100mm.

Whilst I appreciate the investment the owners of the Public House have made in the

fabric of the building [although I am somewhat disappointed so little adaption has been

carried out to improve and enhance the building's environmental credentials and

performance] I find the landscaping proposals out of keeping with the very character of

the Canonbury Conservation Area and as such object to these proposals.

Yours sincerely