PLANS to build luxury homes on one of the biggest mail sorting offices sites in the world have been dubbed “Mount Unpleasant” by children whose classrooms are opposite the proposed scheme.

Pupils at Christopher Hatton primary school – described as “outstanding” in a recent Ofsted report – are highly critical of Royal Mail plans to “squeeze” 700 new homes onto the 12-acre Mount Pleasant site in Clerkenwell.

They are inviting London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is currently considering the scheme, to their school fair on Saturday, June 28, where a writing, crafts and film project will be on show. Also being invited to the event are officials from Royal Mail – even though youngsters at Christopher Hatton and some nearby residents believe their proposals would create a “concrete jungle”.

The children who interviewed their parents and guardians, friends and neighbours as part of the project, are particularly unhappy with plans to build a 15-storey tower block opposite the school in Laystall Street which they argue would block out light. But they also complain that the scheme will provide very little socially rented accommodation “for people who are not rich” and little open or green spaces for children to play. 

Headteacher Gwen Lee said the project expresses how many in the local community feel about scheme. “Parents at the school are worried that the developers don’t appear to have taken into account road layout,” she said.

“There will be more traffic and Post Office vans will be driving past the school to reach an underground car park. There are concerns that it could make it even more dangerous for the kids to get to school.”  

She said that she has expressed the views of the community to architects working on behalf of the Royal Mail who should be aware of the strength of feeling. 

“Many people think that the Royal Mail are missing out on a great opportunity to create a wonderful scheme,” she added. “Where are the large green spaces where children can play? Also, worryingly, the Royal Mail don’t appear to have thought about infrastructure to cope with the influx of new people. For example, what school will the children from the development go to? Our school is always full and there are not enough school places locally.”

Edward Denison, of the Mount Pleasant Forum pressure group, said he was delighted that the children were now giving their views.

“If the Mayor won’t listen to the adults, maybe he’ll take on board what the children say,” he added. “The kids have given the current scheme a perfect description: ‘Mount Unpleasant’.”