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A lot less greed would have seen better social housing
• THE planning situation at King’s Cross becomes more and more complicated.
The Development Control meeting that was to have debated the straightening of Pancras Road ran out of time on March 22 so the matter comes up again on April 19.
And yet the line of the road depends on the presence, or otherwise, of Stanley Buildings North, the demolition of which is on hold pending the outcome of the Judicial Review launched by the King’s Cross Railway Lands Group.
Meanwhile, the two Stanley Buildings, apparently, have been sold by Camden to Argent for rather less than they are actually worth. Stanley North, especially, is worth more as, with demolition consent, it is a development site.
On the other hand, had they been so minded, Camden could legally have disposed of the buildings to a community group for a peppercorn, but that would risk leaving old-fashioned, un-zappy social housing in the middle of Argent’s sexy new development.
But Camden’s report to the executive last month, regarding the disposal of what are described as “two vacant Victorian tenement blocks” is disingenuous. The buildings are said to be in “a very dilapidated condition” and “have not been used by the council as permanent housing for many years”.
Anyone who watched the Restoration series on BBC2 has seen what real dilipadation looks like. The Victorians built their philanthropic housing to last and these would not be difficult to restore. To see what can be done with a block by the same Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, look at the fabulous block on the corner of Columbia Road in E2 – colourful and joyous, and highly sought-after. And Stanley Buildings were better.
As for permanent housing, cross Euston Road and look at the blocks just behind the Town Hall. Whidborne and Midhope Buildings, and others there – similar to Stanley Buildings in type but later in date – were due to be demolished when I lived opposite them as a student nearly 30 years ago.
They were run down and the population was at least partly unsocial – there was even a murder there. Then Ken Livingstone decreed they should be used as official short-term community housing and students from UCL and Great Ormond Street started to move in, along with young couples and anyone needing cheap housing. Finally they were fully reprieved and refurbished. Now, sadly, they are ceasing to be affordable as they are sold off following the right-to-buy scheme.
They may not have been permanent local authority housing for many years, but they were occupied and because they were needed, they were retained. A little imagination and a lot less greed would show that Stanley Buildings – and Culross, whose fate will come next – could equally provide the solid and spacious housing the area needs.
JUDITH MARTIN
Industrial Buildings Preservation Trust
Drysdale Street, N1
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