Shirley House in Camden Road

DEVELOPERS want to avoid having to add affordable housing units in a major facelift planned for the old British Transport Police (BTP) headquarters in Camden Town.

Kilburn and District Properties are planning to add three more storeys to Shirley House in Camden Road. The project is the latest in the area to concentrate on student flats, with 345 rooms proposed for the canalside block – but the documents say these will be let at market rent.

Instead of including “affordable” homes in the scheme, the developers say they will give Camden a payment of £13.7 million to use elsewhere in the borough. If approved, it will be the latest ‘payment in lieu’ deal amid pressure for the council to show finished affordable housing paid for by the agreements.

Meanwhile, neighbours have questioned the increased height of the proposed new building. And Clemency Gibbs, an inspector for Historic England, warned in a letter to council planners that the plans were “incongruous with this part of the conservation area” and “create a dominant presence”.

The Canal & River Trust added that compromises were needed and that the developers should make a contribution “towards improving the towpath environment, including surfacing, public realm and potential planting.”

Agents for the developers said a taller building would “maximise the potential of the existing concrete frame and establish a strong confident marker within Camden and optimising this brownfield site.”

The BTP moved out in December 2024, switching offices to Buckingham Palace Road. It is currently used as temporary artists’ studios. Camden is reviewing the application.