Camden News: Hastings House

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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 14 August 2008

Hastings House courtyard

Protest at threat to ‘sanctuary’

Developer to fence off a tenants’ communal courtyard after lease deal row

A PROPERTY developer has vowed to fence off a communal courtyard in a King’s Cross council estate after housing chiefs backed away from a deal to keep it open for everyone.
Simon O’Connor, who runs Carrington Property Management, has asked for up to £50,000 from Camden Council to renew the lease to land he owns in the courtyard of Hastings House, Hastings Street.
Mr O’Connor has rejected a “derisory offer” of £6,000 for the land used by more than 100 council tenants as a “vital” sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Tenant Jemima Hoadley, who has organised a 40-strong petition to save the open space, said: “This land has absolutely no value to anyone except the residents in Hastings House. It is disgusting that it could be cordoned off. Right now it is used by all the kids as a safe place to play and for us to park our bikes. We recently submitted plans to lay a herb garden and put a hopscotch pitch down. The worst thing is that we have been completely left out of the loop – the council have really let us down on this one.”
Carrington’s own the land because it is attached to a ground floor flat in Jessel House, Judd Street, bought by Mr O’Connor’s firm in 1972.
Mr O’Connor said: “The land is of no value to me and clearly should remain Hastings House courtyard. Camden have known about this for a long time. I just want this resolved – but if I do not get a proper offer from Camden I will fence it off and give it to Jessel House.”
Mr O’Connor has slashed his asking price of £100,000 in half to £50,000 following a call from Labour ward councillor Geethika Jayatilaka. Cllr Jayatilaka said: “There are council officials on good money that should be making these calls but they seem to have crossed this one off their to-do list.
“The idea that £100,000 was the best they could negotiate is ridiculous and their offer of £6,000 was a joke.”
A Town Hall spokeswoman said: “Camden Council made a more than fair offer. Residents have benefited from this outside space for the past 27 years. We made it clear to Carrington that we have a duty to spend council taxpayers’ money wisely and there was no question of us paying more than four times what the lease was worth.”
She added: “We also offered to bring in an independent valuer, but Carrington refused. The council was unable to reach an agreement and we have now had to put in place action to reinstate the area.”

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