At the end of December I was alerted to the fact that there had just been a public exhibition about a huge proposed new development on the Stroud Green Road. As the image on the left shows the John Jones arts centre plan to put a large 6 storey development on their site. They are at an informal consultation stage – the formal planning application has not yet been submitted.
The development is on the Islington side of the road, and Haringey don’t seem to have made much effort to get involved in the process. Councillors such as myself weren’t alerted to the event - which meant I couldn’t advertise it on this website. So I immeadiately put an email into Haringey Council asking how they were going to ensure that residents on the north side of Stroud Green Road were able to have a say. This week (5 weeks later) I got a response just directing me to Islington Council’s website and saying no Haringey panning officers had even attended the December consultation event.
Clearly this development would have a major impact on Stroud Green. Its great to see people wanting to invest in Stroud Green Road, but this proposed building does seem quite tall, given the height of the Victorian terraces surrounding it. I think everyone should have their say on this development – regardless of which side of the borough boundary they live, and I will press for wide-scale consultation when the planning application is submitted.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Good effort Richard, this has been bubbling away for a few months on the stroudgreen.org website. Shame on Islington for not thinking that people on the other side of Stroud Green Road would somehow not be interested in this massive development. Sneak tactics?
July 21st, 2010 at 10:51 am
It looks great – like a clerkenwell style warehouse – clearly a lot of thought has gone into the design. I dont think the height is a negative as the building occupoies an entire block and so the size of the structure is not jarring with neghbouring buildings – it is entoirely appropriate within its urban context. It is being built in a warehouse style which is appropriate for a site next to the train station. The height of the building is what will give it its presence and create an exciting urban feel on what is currently scriffy inductrial land at the bottom of stroud green road. The residential units and work it will attract will encourage that whole area near the station to rejuvinate – imagine a mini arts quarter developing there replacng the current run down kebab shops and minicab stands. The area will become safer as well. What we dont want is them relocating elsewhere – that would be a disaster – this scheme should definitely be encouraged.
If we (i.e. Islington) dont get it it will just benefit a different area.
That is not to say we sjhould not be scrutinising the detail but in principle I think this is a very exciting well thought out scheme.