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From left, flats opponents James Dunnett, Bridget Fox, tenants Jane Watson and Corinne McCulloch, and Lib Dem campaigner Keith Angus |
Former Town Hall chiefs divided over ‘eyesore’ flats
Ex-council leader on board of housing association behind plans
FORMER Town Hall leader Steve Hitchins is a senior member of the governing board of a major housing association behind plans to build a “concrete monstrosity” on precious green space in Barnsbury.
Mr Hitchins was in power when Newlon Housing Association, which he joined nearly a year after being ousted in the 2006 local elections, was given permission to build 400 new homes as part of the Arsenal Emirates stadium development. He was not on the committee that approved the plans.
The housing association is now fighting a battle with residents over plans for a four-storey “eyesore” development on almost half an acre of parkland at its Barnsbury estate.
The move has seriously embarrassed Mr Hitchins’ former deputy leader, Bridget Fox, who is vehemently against the plans.
Newlon wants to “shoehorn” the development – comprising 19 flats and an adjoining car park on green space opposite Molton House and Messiter House blocks – onto the estate off Copenhagen Street.
The plans, which will involve the axing of up to 14 mature trees, were rejected by the Labour-controlled west area committee last month. Campaigners opposing the scheme are furious that Newlon has already fenced off most of the green space earmarked for the development, making it virtually “out of bounds” to tenants.
A government inspector will hear an appeal by Newlon at 10am on Tuesday at the Barnsbury estate’s Tenants Hall in Carnegie Street.
The planned development is immediately opposite Barnard Park, where Mr Hitchins, when he was council leader, supported a controversial housing development on a former maintenance yard.
Islington Society member James Dunnett, who opposed the Barnard Park development, said of the new plans: “You would be hung, drawn and quartered if you tried to do this in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
“I didn’t see eye to eye with Mr Hitchins over the Barnard Park properties. I don’t know what involvement he has, if any, on the Barnsbury estate scheme, but he has certainly set a precedent.
“There are many estates like this built with quite a lot of green space as a feature of their design. But building on these green spaces will simply ruin the quality of life for everyone there.”
Tenant Corinne McCulloch, a social worker, said Newlon decided to fence off the green space without any consultation. “They said it was because of anti-social behaviour but really it is because they are hoping to build on it,” she added.
“It means that really young children who can’t climb over the fence are being forced to play in a side road.”
She added that at the moment she and co-tenant Jane Watson can look out onto green space. “With this development we will look out directly onto a brick wall,” she added.
Ms Fox, an ex-councillor, said she was not aware that Mr Hitchins had joined the board of Newlon.
“It doesn’t make any difference,” she added. “This is not against Newlon as an organisation or any member of their team.
“They are entitled to search for new places to build badly-needed homes.
“This is about one extremely unpopular scheme to build on tenants’ green space. Housing association tenants are entitled to a good environment.”
and confirmed he had become a board member.“Anything else you must talk to Newlon about,” he added.
Newlon spokesman Joe Molloson said Mr Hitchins was not a full-time member of staff and was not involved in the Barnsbury estate scheme.
“He’s a board member of our charitable trust responsible for the governance of the organisation,” he added. “He’s expected to give about a month of his time over the course of a year.”
Mr Molloson added: “There was extensive consultation over this scheme with residents and it was approved by council planners. We desperately need new homes and they have got to go somewhere.
“It is almost impossible to build without using existing land.
“The scheme will include benefits including the refurbishing of the community centre.” |
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