The block in Goldington Crescent

PEOPLE living nearby a six-flat block in Somers Town which has been boarded up and left empty for more than two years have questioned why it has remained vacant for so long, despite a housing crisis and chronic shortage of affordable homes across the borough.

Goldington Crescent, the low-rise block, connected to the larger Goldington Estate off Pancras Road, has fallen into disrepair since the last tenant moved out over two years ago.

Dervilla Carroll, chair of the Goldington Estate Tenants and Residents Association, said: “It’s been empty for two years, this is the problem.

“The people who are tending to the housing lists and voids should be turning over properties like this quickly – it’s scandalous really and it’s poor management.”

Metal hoardings cover the windows and graffiti and weeds have taken over the post-war block built in the late 1950s.

The flats were let to Notting Hill Genesis on a long-term lease and residents were rehomed during the process of it coming to an end.

Camden, the freeholder, have now said the flats will now be prepared and made available to Council residents, but the Town Hall has provided no time frame on the works.

Ms Carroll said: “It was an attractive block, with large sitting rooms facing Pancras Road.

“I think people on the estate would be pleased to see it redeveloped – as housing should be used for housing. There are people across the estate and the borough that have growing families or living in overcrowded situations.”

Paul Tomlinson, former Labour councillor for St Pancras and Somers Town said: “I deplore the lack of urgency that the council shows toward empty properties and void properties. With little effort we could become much more efficient in filling our void properties.”

Paul Tomlinson

A latest report from the Town Hall shows that there are 356 voids in Camden Housing, including 46 three-bedroom flats, 13 four-bedroom flats and two, five-bedroom flats.

The adjoining block, which is connected to the Goldington Crescent building, rises to seven storeys and contains 72 flats.

Ms Carroll said since the block had been derelict, there have been problems with anti-social behaviour and squatting.

“It’s that sense of abandonment which we are constantly pointing out to the council when they fail to do proper maintenance and repairs,” she said.

“They haven’t made any effort to keep it looking nice, and it makes you wonder if they just intend to knock it down or whether it’s even feasible to build upon it.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “Goldington Crescent is a block of six council freehold-owned flats that had been let to a housing association on a long-term lease, which has now expired.

“The housing association have rehomed all their residents and the flats will now be returned to Camden to be prepared and then made available to let to council residents.”