Utopia Village

RESIDENTS in a tranquil corner of Primrose Hill fear the peace being shattered by excited children visiting a new family club with soft play and a swimming pool.

And the impending arrival of the luxury OurHouse brand in converted offices in Utopia Village in Chalcot Road has led to questions about who will actually be able to use it.

Residents want to know if they can access the facilities – such as its gym – if they do not have children and what the cost will be.

The company has said it is not a private members’ club, but also advertises membership options at its existing branches.

A series of objections has been published for public view on Camden’s planning website. Susan Quick, who lives in the area, told the council: “This is not a community club. Those without children are specifically not allowed to join. And those with children may only join at a high membership cost.”

The Sunday Times journalist Hadley Freeman said she had been to OurHouse clubs in Kensal Green and Parsons Green and found them “clean, well-managed and full of fun things for kids… however they are not next to residential homes and for a reason: they are noisy inside and outside.”

She described it as “ostensibly a private members’ club for children”, adding: “It will certainly bring no benefit to the many people in the neighbourhood who do not have children, but who will have to put up with the noise of construction, followed by the noise of outside crowds, all to serve a business they cannot join.”

When Camden ruled in April that the club did not need planning permission, officers warned that restricting it “to members only, or subscription holders” would “constitute a change of use” and could lead to enforcement action.

Another neighbour, Sue Byrne, said that “weekends especially will be impacted as they have never previously been – music tinkling through the windows, children playing in the (limited) outside area and heating/cooling plant firing up and humming for increased hours”.

Martin Sheppard, chairman of the Gloucester Avenue Association, added that he was “particularly concerned about the adverse parking impact on the road”.

An OurHouse spokesperson said: “Our vision for Utopia Village is to create a welcoming, family-focused destination that brings parents and children together and makes a positive contribution to the wider Primrose Hill community.

“We recognise the concerns raised by local residents and are committed to being a considerate neighbour. We are engaging regularly with the community to keep local residents informed, taking active steps to minimise noise and disruption, and encouraging sustainable travel choices wherever possible.

“Our existing venues have become much-loved parts of their local communities, and we hope to bring that same sense of connection to Primrose Hill. We are also exploring ways for those living closest to the site to benefit from the club and look forward to continuing to work with local residents as our plans develop.”