Please join us at the Planning Meeting in objecting to this redevelopment proposal!
Thank you for your support so far in opposing the proposed over-development on this prominent site formerly occupied by Highbury Ford. Over 600 objections have been sent to the Council.
We are not in principle opposed to the site being redeveloped or to social housing but we are opposed to the sheer height, size, volume and density of the proposed scheme.
In addition, in our view, inadequate provision has been made to enhance the setting of the Grade2* listed Union Chapel. The scheme is not sympathetic to the surrounding buildings or to the conservation areas adjoining. It endangers the avenue of London Plane trees which form a gateway to Canonbury from the North and signifies a change of environment from Holloway Road and Highbury Corner.
The meeting at which the Council’s West Area Planning Committee will debate the application is to be held on Thursday 4th March at 7.30pm at the Town Hall on Upper Street.
In order to influence the local Councillors who will make the decision as well as supporting the speakers articulating our campaign, please come along on the night. Numbers count!
ISSUED BY THE UPPER STREET ASSOCIATION, THE CANONBURY SOCIETY AND THE FRIENDS OF UNION CHAPEL
SAVE CANONBURY ROAD!
In 2008, developers submitted plans for a huge two-block building on the old Ford dealership site at 85 Canonbury Road. There were many protests, with 120 letters and emails from local residents. The developers withdrew the plans.
Now they have re-submitted virtually the same scheme as a new application, so the previous objections won't count. The massive building is seven storeys high and will cram 134 new households (more than 250 people) into a small area. Click here to view an impression of the proposed site.
A high-quality new building on this site could greatly improve Canonbury Road and Highbury Corner. This building, however, will have the opposite effect. It will blight the area and block its recovery.
It's a huge overdevelopment. The density of people to be packed in is greater than that of the infamous slum estates of the ‘70s. It would be twice as dense as the new Packington Estate, near Angel. We support social housing, but this is anti-social housing.
The blocks would be far too high for this area: 6-7 storeys along Canonbury Road and mainly 4-5 storeys along Compton Avenue. They would dwarf typical low-rise Islington housing like Colebeck Mews, Compton Terrace and Edwards Cottages (see sketch), where developers have already confessed that residents will suffer loss of light.
It will spoil life-enhancing local views of the celebrated Union Chapel and the two Conservation Areas nearby.
Planning Reference P092242, Mr Matthew Rosel, Planning Service
PO Box 3333, Islington Council, 222 Upper Street, London N1 1XR
OR
Ask for an acknowledgment.
Beware: if developers get away with spoiling this crucial site, no area of Islington is protected.
Below are links of documents giving more information and details of objections made by local organisations to the proposed plans:
Click here to see more details of SAVE CANONBURY ROAD above.
Click here to see The Canonbury Society's letter to the Planning Department.
Click here for large image of artist's impression of site on SAVE CANONBURY ROAD
Click here to find out more about the history of the site and the previous application.
Clcik here to access a tick box letter to send to the Council.
Clich herefor official notice of Planning Application
Click here for Compton Avenue elevation and here for second page of document
Click here for letter by the Friends of Union Chapel
Click here for draft letter of the Upper Street Association for comment
Click here to view the coverage by the Islington Tribune on 27 November 2009
Write (or e-mail)
to the Council stating why you object.
