Residents in Derby Lodge say the affect on their courtyard will be a reduction in light

NEIGHBOURS in King’s Cross say the council has “traded our sunlight for cash” after a seven-storey student housing block was approved for their street.

The scheme planned for a car park in Britannia Street got the green light from councillors after developers offered a £5.9 million payment to fund affordable housing elsewhere. Residents in Derby Lodge learned that Curlew Capital’s project would black out 93 per cent of light to their courtyard as building consent was granted.

Marcus O’Higgins, who has lived in Derby Lodge for more than 35 years, said: “At the moment I open my window. There is a small building and wall and lots of wonderful sky. When this goes ahead there will be no sky. The new building will be getting sunshine on their roof and I will be getting nothing.”

Mr O’Higgins said he only found about the application because Green councillor Jim Monaghan came to his door asking to take a look at the site.

Another resident said: “They want to build a towering monstrosity right beside us, enclosing our communal courtyard on all sides, like a prison yard. They traded our light for cash.”

He said this was his opinion because the only thing that seemed different to a scheme which residents fought of in 2013 was the “payment in lieu” –a PiL – for housing. The light test is based on measurements expected for the spring equinox in March. The PiLs are money meant to fund affordable homes in other schemes, but few actually get built in Camden.

At the planning meeting last Tuesday, Cllr Monaghan said: “I don’t think the committee is aware of the impact on Derby Lodge. The images should have been displayed showing elevations of both buildings.”

He added: “Sunlight in March is going to be woefully less – down to 2 per cent.”

Council officers said there was a dispute about how bad the light blackout would be and that in the summer the light loss would be far less.

In a deputation against the scheme, Stephen Swift, trustee and treasurer of Help Musicians (HM), a 105-year-old national charity next to Derby Lodge, said: “Our charity looks after musicians in crisis. We do this in our building in Britannia Street. This is the first port of call for individuals who are struggling.

“The environment is critical. We have no opposition to development of the car park, but this proposal endangers our ability to look after musicians in their times of need.”

“Until yesterday we had very little correspondence with the applicant. We did receive a call yesterday. A day’s notice, we have no opportunity to take advice about this.”

Greg Fox, from Curlew Capital, said: “I wanted to express my regret that there has been a miscommunication. I can commit to a detailed process of engagement.

“Over the course of the application I have personally attended many meetings.

“This has resulted in removal of roof terrace and overlooking windows. £100,000 is being made available to the courtyard.”

He said UCL and the University of London have supported the scheme for more student housing, and there had been three years of talks with Network Rail about its tunnel beneath the site before the application came to planning.

Nine councillors voted in favour with two voting against, while chairman Councillor Liam Martin-Lane abstained.