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Artist’s impression of the proposed building |
‘This is Old Street, not New York,’ protesters tell inquiry
Neighbours make their point outside meeting over skyscraper development
DEVELOPERS behind plans to put one of London’s tallest skyscrapers behind Old Street railway station have been accused of wanting to turn the area into another Manhattan.
Residents made the claims outside a planning inquiry at Finsbury Town Hall yesterday (Thursday). A government inspector is reconsidering plans for a 149-metre, 39-storey glass building on a tiny site overlooking Old Street roundabout.
Developers LMS City Road Ltd put their case before principal planning inspector John Gray this week after Islington councillors threw out their plans in July last year for being too high, too bulky and lacking sufficient affordable social housing.
The main tower would have 250 flats, plus 100,000 sq ft of offices, shops, bars, cafés and an underground car park, but no outdoor play space for children or balconies for residents.
Residents stood alongside Islington Council barristers as they made their case against LMS.
Neighbour Paul Cottee said: “I’m not against development per se. If nothing else, it will improve the value of our homes. But I don’t think a 40-storey building is appropriate for this part of the world.
“We don’t want to go down the road of having avenues of tall buildings like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manhattan. London has its own character.”
Simon Beck, who lives in Featherstone Street, said: “The area is surprisingly village-like. This is the thin end of a large wedge of turning the area into a huge area of skyscrapers.
“It’s a bland, nondescript, high-rise building that will become an eyesore in the coming decade.”
His wife Minjee said the plans didn’t include enough open space.
Bunhill councillor Ruth Polling told the hearing the development was “well over twice the height of the average tall block in the ward” and 13 storeys higher than the tallest – Peregrine House, in Hall Street, which has 26 floors.
She added: “I have received more letters of concern about this development than any other in my ward.
“Any permission granted for this site will affect the way residents and visitors to Islington perceive the borough for well over 50 years. It is just too large to be accommodated within such a small site surrounded by residential properties.”
The council also opposes the developers’ plans to demolish the locally listed 70-74 City Road and build a nine-storey office block instead.
Cllr Polling said: “It will be replaced with a corporate, identikit nine-storey building and tower.”
The skyscraper, backed by former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, would form part of a proposed three-building cluster around Featherstone Street and Mallow Street.
It would have dwarfed the London Eye, Centre Point and nearby Barbican.
Richard Hillebron, senior planning consultant LMS’s parent company Derwent London, said: “This first went to Islington’s planning committee with recommendation for approval from officers.
“In essence we’re fighting two issues. One was the loss of the smaller building, 70-74 City Road. That’s a difference in point of view between us and the council.
“We think it’s not an important building, but they think it is. It’s not listed.
“The council say the height, scale and mass is an issue, but that’s a difference of opinion.”
The inquiry is expected to end today (Friday). |
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Your comments:
These idiots have clearly never been to New York, or a village for that matter. This is hilarious. Judging by this article these people haven't got a clue about the world. One small tower on a roundabout full of horrible 60's monstrosities is NOT Shanghai/New York. Get a life and stop making stupid accusations, NIMBYs. The area needs something like this, it's a total dump.
Les Ferris |
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