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On site: Grainger development director Richard Shaw and lettings manager Ana Hutchinson |
Developer of baths site has no fear of a dip in the market
Historic site taking shape with new 200 homes
THE pools are no more, the baths have long gone, but the historic neon diving lady sign shines on.
Built in 1895, Hornsey Road baths were once considered the largest in the country.
Now they have been transformed into 150 private flats, 62 affordable homes, council offices and a nursery – but a little of its history remains.
Developers Grainger plc, who bought the baths from Islington Council as part of a three-site deal in 2006, have restored the famous listed diving lady sign, which is believed to be the only one left in the country.
Grainger development director Richard Shaw said: “We’ve retained the diving lady. It’s a lovely icon and I believe it’s the last in the UK.”
The Tribune was this week invited to a sneak preview of the site, two months before the new flats go on the market.
Little remains of the old baths, which closed in 1991 owing to a lack of funding.
Where once stood 125 slipper baths and four pools, there are now manicured gardens, luxury flats and a few mature trees.
Grainger have transformed the Grade II-listed Victorian gatehouse into high-spec flats, with the top-floor one-bedroom home boasting a particularly unusual feature, the gatehouse clocktower.
The 19th-century clock, stopped for many years, has been restored, and faces onto Hornsey Road, but the only access to the mechanism is through the flat. So the prospective owner now has the clockworks in a cupboard in the home.
The laundry house has also been retained and, in a deal with the council, will be put to community use, with talk leaning towards some form of arts centre.
Grainger have also saved the old boiler chimney towards the back of the development.
Standing 24 metres high, now encased in glass, it dissects and towers over the new flats, which have been built around it. It will be transformed into a beacon of light, when Graingers’ plans to illuminate it are complete.
Mr Shaw said: “We’re going to light it from the bottom and top. It will look spectacular.”
Tenants have already moved into the affordable homes at the back, but the private flats won’t be sold, or rented out, until works are completed in April.
Mr Shaw said: “The Hornsey Road apartments are realistically and competitively priced to reflect the current market. The apartments are all finished to a very high standard and represent real value for money and we believe this will encourage a high level of interest.
“The rental market is currently very buoyant and with specialist lettings staff based at the development, we expect to find tenants for the rented apartments very quickly.”
He added: “Practicalities on site have meant there has been a slight delay with completion, which is now scheduled for April.” |
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