The empty block in Chalton Street, Somers Town 

• CHALTON Street – is this an example of Camden’s “innovation economics” in practice?

Just take a plot of land from a public open space, like this one (pictured above) in Somers Town, and built a block of flats on it over a commercial ground floor, and finance it with cash from the magic CIP, Community Investment Programme.

All fine to a point.

However on the urban use side, this site is in the centre of a community with half a dozen schools and children’s places in all directions and the hoarding, interestingly, as seen here, is taking over the public pavement to such extent that making a journey on it by wheelchair or pushchair is impossible because of a lamp-post in a strategic position which the authority, or the contractor, has never noticed; but every parent has, to and fro to any of the nearby schools, sports and community events.

The occupants in the small building seen here behind the block have their dozen or so southerly windows and balcony blocked by a plain flank wall forming part of the new block. Previously these windows and balcony enjoyed a true south view over the open green area and children’s play area.

So what has gone wrong with this development? How is “innovation economics” being interpreted?

This block was finished well over a year ago, yet it stands empty and unused. The hoardings are only there to protect the cars and vehicles used by a contractor working nearby, also on a CIP project.

Should we need to know how “innovation economics” works?

HERMAN TRIBELNIG
Camden Town
Urban Design
Improvement Society
PO Box 10850
NW1 8WF