How the new development would look.

Published: 5 November 2013
By DAN CARRIER

PEOPLE living near Swain's Lane in Highgate will get the chance to air their views on a controversial redevelopment for the parade of shops.

Plans for the street have been revised from initials designs and the size of the proposed buildings, originally slated to be a four storeys, have been reduced in places including at junction with Highgate Road – which objectors said was crucial to keeping views clear to the spire of the Grade-II listed St Anne's Church. 

The new plans show eight small shops – meaning earlier fears that a large scale operator like Waitrose could move have been kiboshed – and 13 private homes.

There is no social housing on site and includes space for five cars to park.

Action group Save Swain's Lane are hosting a meeting on Monday at St Anne's Church, on Highgate West Hill, at 7.30pm to discuss the response to owner the Earl of Listowel's scheme to knock down the 1930s parade and rebuild it with new shops and homes.

The group say they hope the scheme will provide vibrant independent businesses, offering the traditional shop keepers a future: there is still no plan in place to guarantee the current shopkeepers, which includes popular florists Covingtons, greengrocers Claude and the cafe, deli and wine shop Corks and Forks.   

Organisers of the Save Swain's Lane group say they want to hear what sort of traders shoppers would like to see on the parade. 

This is the fourth application in a decade. All have faced serious opposition, but the campaign group, set up to respond to the latest scheme, say the project has many good points. 

Architect Julian De Metz, who is on the Save Swain's Lane committee, told the New Journal that the scheme had improved with their input but they wanted residents to share their views. 

He said: “We do think it has improved but it is not there yet. They have made quite good progress because of what we have done over the past year but we want everyone's views.”

He added that continued stumbling blocks included the plans to use a white rendered facade: "We are hearing that people do not want it to look how it is being suggested. White render makes it feel quite formal. It may be suitable for a business park – or Belgravia, but not here."

Suggestions of how it could look includes using different materials for the top floor to make it look like a roof extension, and using red brick to fit in with the other Edwardian and late Victorian styles in the area. 

The Earl of Listowel registered his scheme with the Town Hall on October 15, although planning officers are still pouring over the details so it hasn't been made public.

Architect Liam O'Connor, who has designed the scheme, said he had chosen materials and a design that would weather well and soon become a much loved part of the village area.

He said: “Our designs have evolved over quite a long period. We looked at different materials and the architectural traditions of the area. Our design team have been very happy to engage with the community and a lot of things have changed because of that dialogue.”

He cited the Brookfield Lodge on Highgate West Hill, which is white pebble dash, Brookfield mansions with Victorian red brick, the Mock Tudor of the upper levels of shops further along the street, and the early Victorian villas opposite. 

He added: “It is an unusual project and it is a chance to reinforce the village character. We will offer some continuity to the retail frontages of the Swain's Lane. It is also important that this is not seen as a concrete building with panels of render. . We are aiming for character and quality and over the years it will look like it belongs.”

Mr O'Connor added that they would increase the size of pavements at the corner of Swain's Lane and Highgate west hill from two metres to more than six metres, creating a sweeping  pedestrian area, and were planning to plant new trees to follow the mature London Plane trees already in the street.