Islington Archaeology and History Society has added its voice to objections to a proposal to build a high-rise development on the site of the former Highbury Ford premises at 85 Canonbury Road.  Of particular concern to the Society is the preservation of the remaining uninterrupted views of Union Chapel on the local skyline. The Society’s chairman has co-signed a joint letter with the Islington Society, the Canonbury Society, the Upper Street Association and the Friends of Union Chapel.

To the Islington Tribune

We are writing about the planning application that has been submitted regarding the Ford site at the Highbury Corner end of Canonbury Road. (comments have to be submitted to the Planning Department, 222 Upper Street N1 1YA by Thursday 5 June, quoting application number P 080565).

We have followed the exhibitions and plans for the scheme, and believe that all the local amenity groups will oppose it because-

1. With mainly six and seven storeys the scheme is far too high in relation to the area and surrounding buildings. Islington is typically low-rise. This scheme is out of scale with the Union Chapel, and will simply wipe out the view approaching north or south from Canonbury Road.
    
2. The scheme disregards the Council’s own planning guidelines as set out on its website-which expressly discusses the site. These mention appropriate heights for the site as being four to five storeys along Canonbury Road, and two to three along Compton Avenue. And they go on to say that “The quality and height of any proposed buildings must respect the nearby grade II* listed building, adjacent Conservation Areas, adjacent residential properties and existing trees.” All of this is completely disregarded in the present hugely intrusive planning application .
    
3. The scheme takes no account of the actual transport problems at Highbury Corner – where buses and tubes are severely overcrowded with the various intersections.
    
4. The scheme is too big for the site. One unfortunate result of the attempts to maximize the density of the scheme is that the block proposed along Canonbury Road comes up to the back edge of the pavement at the southern end- so there is no opportunity to extend the line of mature trees along Edwards Cottages-and reinforce the more attractive streetscape at the Highbury Corner end. Ten years ago tree planting was a key part of the approval for the Ford buildings.

This site is a key part of the Borough around Highbury Corner, a gateway to Islington that is used by thousands of people every week. What is required is a smaller scale, lower rise project that respects the local environment.

All of us welcome a sensitive treatment of this important site. This is not offered in the present planning application.

Yours sincerely

Philip Walker, Chair -Canonbury Society
Andrew Gardner, Chair -Islington Archaeology and History Society
Andrew Bosi,  Chair -Islington Society
Anthony Richardson,  Chair –Friends of the Union Chapel
Charles Wood,  Acting Chair -The Upper Street Association