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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 25 July 2008

Triangle site in King’s Cross

Minister backs developer in clash over affordable homes

A GOVERNMENT minister has dashed campaigners’ hopes of forcing King’s Cross developer Argent to build more affordable homes in Islington.
Hazel Blears, secretary of state for communities and local government, upheld Argent’s appeal against a council decision blocking plans to build 250 homes because too few were affordable. Planning chiefs had rejected an application for a 17-storey development on a site known as “The Triangle”, flanking York Way and the main east coast railway line.
Campaigners from Cally Rail Group and King’s Cross Railway Lands Group (KXRLG) told a Holloway planning inquiry in April that “disturbing noises” from passing Channel Tunnel and Thameslink trains made the site unsuitable for homes.
Trucks dumping tonnes of rubble at a Cemex Plant, near the planned housing development, made a sound like someone repeatedly “throwing stones into a tin box”, the inquiry heard.
In a David-and-Goliath battle, the two campaign groups hoped to force Argent to rethink its entire £2billion King’s Cross development.
But Ms Blears has upheld Argent’s appeal on all counts. A spokesman for Argent said: “This decision is fantastic news for the King’s Cross Central development, one of the largest regeneration and development opportunities in central London.”
Diana Shelley, who chairs Cally Rail Group, said: “We’re still worried about the noise residents will experience, particularly in the affordable housing block in York Way. Now Argent has won this appeal, we urge them to rethink the layout of this scheme to ensure those who live there won’t have to keep their windows shut in order to get a night’s sleep.”
KXRLG chairman Michael Edwards said: “The odds were stacked against us. But I’ve not got regrets. It’s bad news for the people of Camden and Islington because there was a chance for more affordable homes. We will have to wait for British politics to change before we can win battles like this.”
Labour councillor Paul Convery, who chaired the planning committee which initially rejected the Argent plans, said: “We are disappointed, but it was clearly worth fighting for.
“Argent were represented by the top planning lawyer in the country. It is often a David-and-Goliath battle between councils and developers on these matters, but if you just roll-over nothing would ever change.”
Lib Dem planning chief Councillor Greg Foxsmith said: “We’re disappointed with the secretary of state’s decision on this case. Islington Council have made building more affordable housing one of their top priorities, so this is a major factor for us when considering planning applications.”

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