Star of gangster flicks opposes ‘intensive’ development’

Kenneth Cranham

BRITISH film star Ken Cranham has joined a campaign against plans for an “intensive” development close to hishome in leafy Barnsbury.
Along with dozens of furious residents he is expected to attend a meeting of the West Area Committee on Monday to object to plans to “squeeze” 141 flats into a “flatpack” scheme at the Barnsbury Complex in Offord Road.
Veteran actor Mr Cranham, star of the recent British gangster film Layer Cake said: “There is already an unbelievable density of traffic in the Offord road Area. How can we call thisproposed redevelopment of the Barnsbury Complex suitable for a so called conservation area?”
The flats are part of a £70m partnership between the council and Newcastle developer Grainger Trust. The plan would house people in “prefabricated-style” blocks. English Heritage is investigating the scheme, which threatens three important listed Victorian former school buildings, and could ruin an area of Georgian villas and imposing late Victorian and early Edwardian homes said to be of outstanding grandeur. The original plans have been reduced in scale – from 149 flats and houses – following widespread protest earlier this year, reported in the Islington Tribune.
Private papers revealed that the council’s Conservation Officer, Alec Foreshore, said aspects were “cheap and nasty” and the council’s senior development officer, Anna Przylecka, thought the “proposed architecture ghastly”.
Barnsbury Park resident Rosa Bosch, spokeswoman for Barnsbury Residents Against Inappropriate Development, (Braid) urged as many residents as possible to attend Monday evening’s meeting. “All those who objected before must object again because it is a new scheme even though they’ve hardly changed the designs from last time,” she said. “Remember, if they get the go-ahead it will be two years of local upheaval. This is a development, which ignores the local character of the neighbourhood, and will bring with it extra traffic, noise and fumes.”
Solicitor Simon Rudin, who lives in Barnsbury Park, said the scheme
constituted a massive over development.
“The size of the pre-fabricated style flat pack blocks will give a cramped, hemmed in look to the area,” he said.
Under the partnership deal with the Council, Grainger would also build a new 43,000 square foot office development at the former Hornsey Road Baths, where council staff, currently working at the Barnsbury complex, would be transferred.
In addition, there would be 200 new homes at this site. Ward Cllr Emma Gowers said: “We’re aware of the huge concern about this
scheme and will be looking carefully at it when it comes up at committee.
“We’ll be making a decision on proper planning grounds taking into account all the information before us on the night.”
Rupert Dickinson, Grainger’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Islington for these two mixed use urban regeneration schemes to be developed in partnership with the council. These projects are a natural development of our expanding portfolio of urban regeneration schemes and complement our £400m tenanted residential portfolio.”

West Area Planning Committee meeting is on Monday at the Barnsbury Complex, 7.30 pm.