Plans to redevelop Islington's Barnsbury Estate approved

Islington Council granted planning permission on November 28 to redevelop part of the Barnsbury Estate in Islington, years after residents were slamming the conditions of the estate that was “left to rot”.

The Newlon Housing Trust and developers Mount Anvil put forward proposals to deliver 914 homes at the New Barnsbury block between Caledonian Road and Charlotte Terrace.

This includes 426 for social housing, 135 for social rent and 291 replacement homes for current estate residents.

Proposed Masterplan for New Barnsbury (Image: Newlon/Mount Anvil)

According to the trust, the development will mean 46 overcrowded households will get a larger home of the “correct size for their family”.

Neighbours and campaigners told the Gazette in 2018 that there were various problems in the area due to the block’s unlit entrance that allegedly attracted people peeing in the area and drug dealing.

The approved redevelopment of the New Barnsbury block, built in the 1950s and 70s, will introduce over 16,000 square metres of open space and 202 trees with two new parks and pedestrianised mews streets.

A CGI of what Pultney Street Park could look like (Image: Newlon/Mount Anvil)

Barnsbury will have a new community centre, double the size of the existing building, at the new Carnegie Street Park.

The other new park, Pultney Street, will have biodiverse plants and improvements created with the London Wildlife Trust.

Newlon says shops in Caledonian Road will be retained in the redeveloped blocks with modern commercial space.

A CGI showing the shops along Caledonian Road (Image: Newlon/Mount Anvil)

Further plans to redevelop the neighbouring Old Barnsbury 1930s-build block between Charlotte Terrace and Barnsbury Road will be heard by the Islington planning applications committee on Tuesday (December 6).

At the time the Gazette reported on complaints of damp flats, cockroach infestations, fly tipping and dangerous stairwells.

READ MORE:

• ‘Astonishing neglect’: Has Newlon Housing Trust left Barnsbury Estate to rot?

Mike Hinch, CEO of the trust, said: “We are really proud that our plans for the transformation of the Barnsbury Estate have been approved.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with our residents, the wider local community and our partners Mount Anvil to create a truly great and sustainable place to live.”

An alternate CGI view of Pultney Street Park (Image: Newlon/Mount Anvil)

Construction works for the redevelopment of New Barnsbury are expected to start in March 2023.