The bus stop in Kentish Town Road

BUS passengers say they are stuck in a big squeeze due to a development which never seems to start.

The narrow pavement caused by hoardings in Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town, has caused overcrowding for people waiting for a 214, 88 or 134 bus – and pedestrians trying to get by.

Linda Lefevre, who lives in Dartmouth Park said: “I once stood at the bus stop with a dozen others. The water was splashing up from the road. People who were walking past didn’t have room to get past and hopped down to the road.”

The 80-year-old added: “It’s just a nightmare. For a mum coming along with a double buggy or a disabled person with a walking frame it would be just impossible and the basic point is that behind the hoarding is nothing. It’s been three years of empty space.”

Progress on the development at 369 Kentish Town is due to finally begin in April.

Planning permission was granted in 2019 for developers Folgate Estates to build 14 homes and a ground floor commercial space on the triangular site.

The former car wash was demolished in 2022.

Elizabeth Monck, who lives in Swain’s Lane said: “The bus stop is often extremely busy, sometimes the buses terminate there, meaning suddenly 20 people are waiting for a bus. There are old people with shopping and people tired from work. It just is a very bad system not to have somewhere to sit down and be sheltered from the elements. The hoarding makes the path so narrow and it’s dangerous along that stretch of pavement.”

Once construction work starts, the bus stop will eventually have to close to allow access for heavy machinery, including cranes. The development is expected to finish in December 2027.

Ward councillor James Slater said: “It’s taken us two or three years to push the developers to start to build but it does seem to be moving now, they will need to shut the bus stop eventually as a practically but we hope they can work as quickly as possible to get work on the pavement done so the bus stop can return as quickly as possible.”

A Folgate Estates spokesperson said: “We are progressing with the delivery of new homes.

“Pending approval of our Construction Management Plan by Camden Council, and finalisation of neighbouring agreements, we anticipate starting works on site in April 2026, targeting full completion of the new homes by early 2028.

“We are committed to working closely with Camden Council and Transport for London to carefully manage construction activity and to minimise disruption during works wherever possible.”

A Transport for London spokesperson said: “We’re determined to ensure that everyone can travel safely and are looking into the issues at this bus stop.”