A drawing of how the new homes could look at the corner of Camden Road and St Pancras Way. inset bottom right: New plans would see the former parking office in Camden Road demolished

Published: 10 October, 2013
by DAN CARRIER

FORMER council parking and social services department offices in Camden Town could be turned into a new housing estate made up of private homes for sale and affordable homes for rent, under plans released by developers Barratt.

The blocks, on the corner of Camden Road and St Pancras Way, are due to be sold to the developers – and as part of the deal the Town Hall will ensure that 50 per cent of any homes on the site will be affordable.

Officers hope the deal will give them around 80 new homes for social housing as they try to eat into a waiting list that tops 25,000 people.

At an exhibition on Monday night, at the Irish Centre in Camden Square, architects Sheppard Robson displayed a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes with private courtyards on the ground floor and rooftop gardens for residents to relax in.

Architect Peter Johnston said the plans were based on an “S” shape.

He said: “This is a wonderful site with a great opportunity to provide much-needed new housing.”

The preliminary plans show homes with double height windows – and Mr Johnston explained they were influenced by the architecture already in Camden Road.

He said: “We took the idea of large, double height windows from the Georgian villas opposite.”

Outside space includes the ground-floor courtyards, described as “go through” space leading to homes, while communal gardens on the fifth floor will be split up into different zones: they include areas for relaxing, growing vegetables and a children’s play area.

The current buildings are four storeys at their highest, but Barratt hope to build up to seven storeys high.

The exhibition flagged up the scheme’s green proposals. They say they will try to keep a collection of mature London plane trees on site, and say they will plant native trees and other plants to encourage wildlife. It also includes “green” roofs and solar panels to provide both energy and hot water.

The designs have facades with specially developed insulation panels to minimise heat loss and dual-aspect rooms to allow plenty of sunlight in.

The post-war offices once housed the Town Hall’s social services department and has been empty for three years.

The unit will be placed in the new council offices being built in King’s Cross.

The deal with Barratt includes the building next door, once used for parking and traffic enforcement, and is subject to the firm getting planning permission.

A council spokesman said they would not reveal the pricetag “at this time” for the site due to “commercial sensitivity” but estate agents predict the sale could bring in more than £10million for the Town Hall.

Barratt Homes hope to submit a planning application before the end of the year.