How the new block in Highgate Road could look

A MANHATTAN-style skyline could loom over Kentish Town, say residents opposing the latest tower block plan for the area.

Camden has been asked grant approval for a 13-storey block of bedsits at Highgate Studios, Highgate Road.

The emergence of the plans comes with the area already at the centre of controversy over the scale of schemes in the pipeline from different developers.

Joseph Homes want to build their own towers next door in Highgate Road, Yoo Capital’s “Film Quarter” development will include a 24-storey block in a revamped Regis Road and the future of the Murphy’s Yard site still needs to be resolved.

The Highgate Studios plan by developer General Projects will have around 200 “units”, with shared kitchens, sitting rooms and a gym.

The company say the building is inspired by industrial heritage as the site was once home to a bottling factory.

But neighbours remained unconvinced. Sandy Nairne, who chairs the Fabric Advisory Committee at St Paul’s Cathedral, and is a former director of the National Portrait Gallery and lives near the proposed tower, said previous plans for two smaller buildings on the site were better.

“Neither were of this monstrous height, but now they are putting in for this huge skyscraper,” he said.

“No one is against development, but it is the scale that is so out of kilter. The local plan does have height limitations and it appears they feel the other developments at Murphys and Regis Road have given them scope.”

He added: “There are three reasons this application should be shelved: the height and scale, and the fact it absolutely does not fit with the scale of other buildings. At 13 storeys, it is doubling the height of the buildings around it – it is monstrous and over-sized.

“It will block views and obscure the historic chimney stack on the plot, which is a late 19th-century industrial landmark.

“The Maple Building and Linton House are listed locally as being of historic interest. The site has an interesting history, and this is stamping all over it.” Mr Nairne also questioned what was going into the building.

“The developers have said co-living is popular for young people who want these smaller places, a shared gym, shared cooking spaces – but isn’t this just basically bed sits?,” he said.

“Kentish Town was once considered Bedsit city, it was famous for having these homes divided up.” His views were echoed by Colin Davey, who lives in the Maple Building in front of the plot ear­marked for development.

“We were pretty horrified,” he said.

“We appreciate there is an imperative to build residential as intensely as possible, but these proposals are for no less than 12 storeys.

“If they proposed a building that was the same height as those already there, people might be more willing to consider the merits. But they seem to be trying to go as high as possible to maximise their returns.”

A spokesman for the developers told the New Journal the designs had drawn on local landmarks, adding: “The proposals for Block A of Highgate Studios will deliver much-needed homes which will add to the housing mix locally. They will rejuvenate the site which is currently occupied by a single-storey building topped by an underused rooftop car park.

“The proposals have been designed by Stirling prize-winning practice Alison Brooks Architects, who are based on the campus therefore are familiar with the local vernacular.”

He added: “The design is inspired by the distinctive Victorian Vehicle Wash building in Murphy’s Yard, which features a gridded water tank set above a temple-like brick base with arches and a cornice. These elements have been reinterpreted in a contemporary way. The proposals also boast a generous amenity offering on the ground and lower ground floors for the residents and public realm improvements externally to link the scheme to Murphy’s Yard in the future.

“Since we shared our proposals with the public, we have listened to the feedback received and we are proposing a building set across ground +10 storeys – two floors lower than previously. Camden are supportive of our development approach which will deliver high-quality homes that complement the business community at Highgate Studios and the wider Camden borough.”