Neighbours claim a 27-storey tower in Archway would be “like a middle finger to us all” if it is allowed to be built.
Developer SevenCapital has proposed the scheme, which would see parts of the former Archway Hospital site torn down to make way for a mix of flats and student rooms.
Some of the old hospital buildings would be repurposed, while three new housing blocks would be constructed alongside an 85m tower for student accommodation.
On Tuesday (November 19), at a public meeting organised by opponents to the plans, one neighbour said that SevenCapital needed to “go away and start again”.
“It’s ended up as a belligerent proposal to everybody,” they said. “The tower is like a middle finger to us all.”
Kate Calvert, chair of community group Better Archway Forum, explained that the new tower would worsen the existing wind tunnel created by Archway Tower, and “overshadow” the area.
The total number of homes created will be 420, but 242 of these will be student rooms.
Under current plans, of the remaining homes, 91 would be "affordable", compared to 87 to be sold at market rates. Only 58 of these homes would be for social rent.
“The main concern is the affordable housing,” she said. “The problem is when you look at it, it’s not 50% of the whole site, only of part of the site.”
Ms Calvert added that the development would also have a “dreadful, dreadful impact to those living at the back of the scheme”.
One neighbour, Mark Davies, said that Lidyard Road, where he has lived for 24 years, is now the “frontline” in the fight against SevenCapital.
He explained that one of the new housing blocks planned for the site would be too big and too close to their homes.
Lucy, who lives nearby in Highgate Hill in a converted school building The Academy, claimed that the block would “loom over all of us with devastating and noisy effect”.
“Let’s send this cynical, greedy and nasty proposal back to the drawing board,” she said.
Opponents added that they wanted the site to be redeveloped, but that they think the proposed scheme does not meet local needs.
But not everyone agrees. Lauren Thomas, an economist who lives in Finsbury Park, said she did believe the current plans would provide the type of housing that is much needed in the borough.
“Housing is one of our most fundamental rights and it’s being treated as a nuisance,” she said. “New housing in one place frees up and lowers housing prices elsewhere.
“Those students would otherwise be living in HMOs that could instead be used by families.”
She added that the developer had already reduced the height of the tower by several storeys after consulting with local people last year.
Developer SevenCapital told this paper last month that their scheme would provide “high quality, modern residential accommodation and student rooms alongside the restoration of historic buildings”.
A spokesperson added: “The submitted scheme will make a lasting, positive contribution to the community and wider area through public realm enhancements and the provision of flexible community and commercial space.”
The development site is within Islington Council's Junction ward, which is set for a by-election next Thursday (November 28) following the resignation of former council leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz.
Labour candidate James Potts and independent candidate Jackson Caines told Tuesday's meeting that they opposed the plans.
Rebecca Jones, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said she was not necessarily opposed to the tower, but that she was concerned about whether the scheme can deliver the number of affordable homes that are needed.
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