Archway Campus consultation open until 3 November

Seven Capital has submitted a planning application for Archway Campus and the deadline for consultation objections is 3 November. Most local residents haven’t even been formally notified yet!

Let’s not allow Islington Council and Seven Capital to push through a proposal that doesn’t comply with Islington’s own policies or deliver on the promises of the Local Plan.

Icon or Eye-Sore? Visual of what the proposed 27-storey tower block will look like from Navigator Square (Archway)

The site should be developed with affordable and social housing to enhance Archway - this is the wrong plan. This view is shared by residents and several community groups.

You can see the proposal on Islington’s planning site and email your objections to Planning@islington.gov.uk. Be sure to include the application number (P2024/2598/FUL) in your subject line and copy your local councillors so they are aware of your concerns.

It’s not the Shard, it’s the Turd. What the tower block may look like from the local play area - blocking out sun and causing further wind blight.

Local residents must have their say ahead of this once in a generation opportunity to develop Archway, provide homes to families, and protect our community assets.

Consultation meeting - 6 June

Developers SevenCapital will be sharing the latest, updated plans for Archway campus at a public consultation meeting on:
Tuesday, 6 June
15:30 - 19:30
Archway Methodist Church (N19 3TD)

Please join so you can see their plans and ensure residents’ voices are heard. Details of residents’ and local groups’ current thoughts can be seen here.

You should also plan to let Islington Council know your views. Take action and write to them today!

Petition launched!

Sign the petition

Tell Islington to stop SevenCapital’s plans to cram 1,000+ more people into Archway Campus development. The developer wants 300 student rooms, 125 private housing units, and is promising 125 "affordable" units at up to 80% of market rents (not very affordable!) for an excess profit of £10s of millions.

Sign the petition

Tell Islington that you think Archway, its residents, and neighbours deserve better.

Seven Capital’s Plans

Seven Capital showed their new plans for the Archway Campus Development in February 2023. You can see the plans here:

Archway Campus Consultation

Most of the images on this site are from the consultation.

Quick summary: They propose cramming 250 units into the site on top of a 30+ storey tower block for student accommodation - a further 300 units. The northern building right up against the border so that it looms over and crowds the Academy / Lidyard / Despard Road neighbourhood.

Their plans are a desperate attempt to balance competing pressures:

1) They want to fit as many units on the site as possible to achieve 50% affordable housing. Thinking about the number of units, rather than people, means prioritising smaller one-bed units rather than families and key workers. Viability concerns means this promise would likely be broken once planning is granted.

2) The tower plan contravenes Islington’s own tall buildings policy, has a significant visual impact and will create even greater issues around wind than we already have in Navigator Square.

3) The only neighbouring community, just north to the site on Highgate Hill, Lidyard and Despard Roads, are unhappy about the proximity and height of the proposed northern buildings. Rather than using the topography of the site they have put the taller building higher up the hill, right against the boundary.

4) Islington Council claims to be committed to 2030 net zero targets but are not considering more sustainable plans that retain more historic buildings and better comply with the Conservation Area Statement for the site.

5) Seven Capital’s financing and the transaction for the site with Peabody are opaque and raise significant questions of whether the project could be financed and completed. A viability statement should be provided with the planning application.

Current footprint versus proposed footprint of Archway Campus Development