Author and baking expert Juliet Sear was apprehensive when she swapped the Essex seaside for north London Where to live We only actually moved nine years ago. We used to live in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex and I was worried about moving to London — I didn’t think you’d get much of a community vibe and that it’d be really unfriendly are actors and they were always going up and down for auditions And my own work was bringing me to London more and more too My husband Simon had been at university in London and he was keen on being in Islington and so we started coming up at weekends to look around We stumbled upon The Albion pub on Thornhill Road and it was just so picture perfect around there that we decided to move to Barnsbury We rented for three years and then we bought a house I have found that Barnsbury is actually friendlier than Leigh: I know so many locals just because I’m always walking around and people say hello We are spoiled for choice with pubs. One of our favourites is The Drapers Arms is passionate about food and wine and everything is seasonal and they do amazing bar stacks like cheese straws and a really good cheese board The Crown is really our local boozer — two of our children actually used to work there when we first moved here — and it is very laid back You don’t have to dress up to go there or anything like that The Tamil Prince is incredible The only problem is that its really hard to get a table in there so you have got to go very early or very late I go to a local gym at the Business Design Centre I run around all the little garden squares in Barnsbury until I hit my 5k and then I go home We have got lovely small parks like Thornhill Gardens and Barnard Park which Islington Council is really improving at the moment and Highbury Fields is not far away if you want something bigger We have got Chapel Market right near us and it is full of incredible vegetable stalls lots of really unusual things and also really cheap The Turkish shops on Caledonian Road are also really good for vegetables I don’t eat a lot of meat although I will cook some for Simon I also like going to Pistachio and Pickle Dairy and it also has a really nice bar where you can go for a drink and just to see if there are any returned tickets The Regent on Liverpool Road has a comedy night and there are a lot of small theatre pubs along Upper Street We are only 15 minutes from Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross and they have got an open air cinema and art exhibitions going on all the time The absolutely iconic street in Barnsbury is Ripplevale Grove It has these beautiful double fronted houses and if you go at the right time of year it is full of wisteria It is a magical place although you do have to watch out because it’s a nature reserve and its only open a couple of times a week but because we have so many amazing pubs we do get loads of visitors coming in so you do get a real collection of Lime Bikes lying around on the streets And because it so Instagrammable you do get a lot of that too Juliet Sear’s latest book Air Fryer Baking Magic is published by Harper Non Fiction The four primary schools around Barnsbury – St Andrew’s and Thornhill Primary – are all rated “good” by Ofsted Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and St Mary Magdalene Both are “outstanding” according to the schools’ watchdog There are few private schools in the borough but Camden’s top performing independent schools like South Hampstead High School and Highgate School Notting Hill area guide: Imogen Kwok on her 'sweet life loop' in an area that's nothing like NYC 'No-one knows about Lee!': Team GB's Daryll Neita on her low-key south-east area 'I was priced out of Walthamstow' — Olympian and broadcaster Jeanette Kwakye on finding space in Hornchurch Source: Pollard Thomas Edwards with Farrer Huxley Islington Council has approved Pollard Thomas Edwards’ (PTE) re-design of the first phase of its Barnsbury Estate regeneration in north London Councillors unanimously backed the proposals for Phase 1a of the sprawling estate near King’s Cross on 14 November paving the way for work to start on site in 2025 A hybrid planning application for the overall masterplan had been approved in 2022 including detailed planning permission for an initial three phases (1a and outline planning permission for four later phases (1c Work on the first phase had initially been due to start in August 2023 but PTE was forced back to the drawing board by updated post-Grenfell fire safety regulations The first phase will now deliver 134 homes 32 more than the previously-consented Phase 1a (November 2022) Proposals were resubmitted in August this year to ‘meet the housing need of existing residents in the first decant’ The practice confirmed it is now working through similar changes to the rest of the masterplan PTE's overall 1,245-home regeneration masterplan for the 1930s-and-1960s-built estate will provide 291 replacement homes for social rent and an additional 135 homes for social rent over several phases including refurb and new-build The scheme is for Newlon Housing Trust and developer Mount Anvil Nearly 600 existing homes on the estate will be retrofitted under PTE’s wider masterplan joined by around 600 new-build mansion block homes and mews houses The 1930s red-brick blocks of ‘Old Barnsbury’ will be refurbished under the PTE plans while the post-war ‘New Barnsbury’ homes will be rebuilt involves demolishing a number of existing buildings facing Copenhagen Street and reaching up to eight storeys the tallest blocks in the first phase would have been seven-storeys alongside three three-storey mews houses – all housing social rented units The masterplan also includes new green public spaces lighting for all outdoor areas and a community centre said: ‘We have designed the masterplan around a network of routes that reinstate historic street patterns and a family of buildings that celebrate the local area.’ Estate residents first showed their support for the plans in a 2021 residents ballot when almost three in four eligible voters backed PTE’s plans resident ballots have been required for all regeneration projects that receive money from the Greater London Authority Further consultation will take place with residents ahead of a formal planning application submission to Islington Council later this year Work could begin next year and be completed by 2032 Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… ‘Barnsbury is changing – if we don’t grasp it now Friday, 10th January — By Daisy Clague The ‘My Barnsbury’ team are documenting residents’ recollections of the area MONKEYS on Chapel Market and an elephant on Liverpool Road sound more like chil­dren’s stories than historical facts – but these are real memories of Islington’s past unearthed by a project documenting residents’ recollections of the area Created by a team at St Andrew’s church in Thornhill Square the “My Barnsbury” history project has a double purpose: to gather people’s memories of their neighbourhood while raising money for the urgent restoration of the church Through sessions with the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants Cally Traders’ Association and the church’s congregation and school volun­teers are inter­viewing Barns­bury residents of all ages about what the area means to them There are stories of people who have grown up playing on bomb sites or watched Barnard Park change over the years “The feeling from people is that they are incredibly proud to be associated with Islington They have very emotional memories about landmarks and characters and it feels like a big privilege to be able to document that.” Once they have finished gathering people’s memories Ms Mason and her team will work with a local artist to create an exhibition said: “Barnsbury doesn’t really have a focal point “But it’s a very distinct place – it’s not Canonbury it’s not the Cally or King’s Cross – it’s Barnsbury Barns­bury is changing – if we don’t grasp it now The monkeys on Chapel Market came from a pet shop on Cally Road that many pensioners remembered from the 1950s while the elephant on Liverpool Road was a visitor from the circus remembered running away from an enormous spider that dangled out when he opened the light one day Another young foot­baller recalled playing the beautiful game in Thornhill Square with a team of lads who had all failed to make their school teams – only for them to go on to win a Highbury league together two years later “There’s a real sense of community once you get people going,” Ms Mason added “There is a coherence to it that is very Islington.” There is one more open session where residents can come to share their memories of the area: Wednesday 10-11.30am at the Jean Stokes Community Centre Small business owners are criticising the liveable neighborhood scheme in Barnsbury as the project restricts traffic and can cause businesses to lose money.   who owns a restaurant on Caledonian Road,  is concerned that less traffic means less money once traffic filters are placed on side roads.   Ulas believes that the scheme will still be accepted even though he feels that most people are not supportive “Rich people want it so that they can ride their bicycles in peace.”     who also runs a fish and chips restaurant on Stock Orchard Street says the scheme would damage her business by reducing parking space for customers.  I really believe that climate change is happening and that we need to do something about it but not by diverting traffic onto Caledonian Road.   which defeats the whole purpose of it being environmentally safe,” she says Cinko-Oner believes the scheme is creating hostility among locals including individuals with caring commitments and young parents who cannot use public transport “Liveable Neighbourhood is a brilliant scheme,” says Cllr it has not fully captured the geographics of Islington.” Nick Collin, a member of the anti-LTN group, Keep Islington Moving said he lacked confidence that Islington Council will listen to residents’ concerns.  He described the current plan as “disastrous for local businesses.” I am a Newspaper Journalism student at City and a graduate in Politics and French from the University of Bristol With six years of experience in media and a commitment to solutions-based I have previously written for publications such as Marlborough News but I mainly specialise in stories related to politics and culture Some 240 pupils at Barnsbury Primary School were taught the importance of staying safe from the dangers of playing around nearby construction sites as part of a school programme hosted by Cala Homes (Thames). The children took part in Cala’s “Stay Safe, Stay Away” initiative, hosted by Steve Morris, who ran an interactive session that uncovered the history of building houses and engaged the children in roles within the construction industry. The initiative is part of Cala Homes’ Community Pledge, which it delivers as part of its Chestnut Fields development, located near the school. Through the Community Pledge, the housebuilder commits to providing positive social impacts to the areas it builds through community engagement initiatives, such as school workshops, volunteering, donations, sponsorships and bursaries. A spokesperson for Barnsbury Primary School, said: “On behalf of our children and staff, we’re thankful to Steve for dedicating his time to provide our pupils with an engaging and thought-provoking session on the topic of safety around construction sites. “The initiative helped the students gain a deeper understanding of the potential dangers these sites present and the importance of leaving them to trained professionals, all while providing them with insights on the history of our homes and the different roles and responsibilities of the people behind them.” Steve, group HSE manager at Cala Homes (Thames), said: “While all our sites are secure, it is essential children understand the potential dangers of entering construction sites to ensure their safety and that of their friends. “Although it’s a serious subject, it was brilliant to see the pupils at Barnsbury Primary actively engage with our presentation – asking insightful questions and even trying on our safety gear to better understand the importance of leaving construction work to the professionals. “We hope that by raising awareness, we can perhaps inspire the next generation of construction professionals.” Comments Tel: 01483 802700[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Check if you already have access from your company or university With a MRW subscription you’ll get access to: We may only have 300 homes but we can always be improving the value we bring to our residents’ lives chief executive of Barnsbury Housing Association Susan French is chief executive of Barnsbury Housing Association  In my many years of running and participating in board strategy days I have to confess that it’s a pretty rare event that sends both board and leadership team away feeling energised inspired and feeling that something genuinely transformative is possible Our recent strategy day was one of those events The power of the morning was in thinking big: how AI could impact on how we work and residents lives; watching Hilary Cottam’s mind-shifting TED Talk on reimagining service delivery and empowering communities through collaboration; and hearing from the Cripplegate Foundation funder and mapper of the rich and diverse third sector in our home borough (Islington A few numbers jumped out of these sessions for me: The power of the afternoon was thinking about how all of this could apply to us at Barnsbury We think our Staying Connected visits could be the key This new programme of hour-long visits to every tenant are part tenancy audit but also a bit of an organisational hug at a time – post-pandemic mid-cost of living crisis – when a lot of people need it I knew we were onto something when Maurice As well as picking up adaptations he needs but wouldn’t have asked for we helped him apply for Attendance Allowance and a taxi card and can live safely in his home for longer we have helped with access to over £20,000 of direct financial support we have linked residents – many who would never have asked for help until they reached crisis point – to services such as mental health Other residents have offered to get involved with us and in their community “The visits will create substantial savings both for us averting serious hoarding and improving access for compliance visits and elsewhere in social care and health budgets” the visits will create substantial savings both for us averting serious hoarding and improving access for compliance visits and elsewhere in social care and health budgets The next step is looking at the overall picture that emerges and how this might help us reshape our service and broader relationship with residents collaboration and mutual support at its heart Knowing your tenants is the holy grail for all landlords – that and building trust It’s unlikely we will ever be at the forefront of AI in housing we will use it to continue to make Barnsbury flourish and person-centred connection residents have told us they value which build a strong bond of trust and which can change lives Knowing this also helps answer the question our board asks at every strategy day: that despite a total stock half an L&Q housing officer’s patch size the value we can bring as a small landlord is worth the investment New to Inside Housing? Click here to register and receive our Care and Support round-up straight to your inbox Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The best restaurants located on the Mildmay The London Tube map underwent its biggest overhaul in years despite the trains themselves having barely changed at all This was the result of what was formerly monolithically called the London Overground being rebranded into six separate lines – each with their own new name and colour on the iconic transport map as the London Overground in its old form proved continuously confusing by all looking like it was the same route but with the multiple strands actually having very little to do with each other with the new plan now becoming embedded in the London consciousness we thought we’d do our duty to the city’s hungry diners and point you in the direction of where to eat along each of the Overground lines is a seafood restaurant run with a welcome warmth by its enthusiastic team – the use of oft-discarded ingredients is particularly laudable where Peter Sanchez-Iglesias fuses Spanish and Mexican influences on the top floor of The Standard hotel King’s Cross St Pancras is an even closer station Liberty Line It’s no great surprise that there’s not many restaurants located on the Liberty Line given that it only includes three stops in London’s north-eastern corner an area known for its historical independence – hence the name Love all things MICHELIN?Sign up to our newsletter to hear from the MICHELIN Guide InspectorsGet the Guide on the go with the free appSet up an account to create lists & manage bookings Why not complete your culinary trip around London with a stay in a MICHELIN recommended hotel Find your new favourite restaurant with all of the Inspectors' recent additions to The MICHELIN Guide Discover some of the Inspectors' most creative memorable and downright delicious dishes of the month from their latest culinary travels throughout Great Britain & Ireland One of the most beloved and exciting restaurants in York Skosh is an energetic and wonderfully enjoyable destination – hear from Chef-Owner Neil Bentinck and a MICHELIN Inspector on what makes it special Hear from the couple behind Bottega Caruso the family-run Italian restaurant that’s one of the loveliest eateries in the country – and a force for good in the local area Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels This was the result of what was formerly monolithically called the London Overground being rebranded into six separate lines \u2013 each with their own new name and colour on the iconic transport map we thought we\u2019d do our duty to the city\u2019s hungry diners and point you in the direction of where to eat along each of the Overground lines Love all things MICHELIN?Sign up to our newsletter to hear from the MICHELIN Guide InspectorsGet the Guide on the go with the free appSet up an account to create lists & manage bookings Why not complete your culinary trip around London with a stay in a MICHELIN recommended hotel Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. London Aria is located in an atmospheric space in Islington’s Barnsbury Hall Many of the building’s original features have been restored and they now contrast beautifully with the über-modern lines of contemporary furniture and homewares such as Fornasetti’s black and white hand-painted Antipatico vase (£180) and the Bourgie table light by Ferruccio Laviani (£211) teamed with a very nice in-store café With a 30-year history of representing both established and emerging brands Barnsbury Hall has become a go-to destination for interiors with Starck and Arne Jacobsen well represented Smaller stand-outs include a David Shrigley's cocaine and heroin pots (£79) and pretty Taika bowl (£23.50) that would make a great gift especially if it had some of Aria’s very tempting selection of toiletries (Cowshed The website has some handy gift guides we suggest looking through if you're in the market for a good present.  As featured in the 100 best shops in London Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us Changes to masterplan could add seven storeys Friday, 18th October 2024 — By Isabel Loubser The new proposed scale of the scheme from Thornhill Bridge “PROVOCATIVE” plans to increase the height of several blocks at the Barnsbury estate as developer Newlon redesigns its vision for the site have been met with backlash from council chiefs who say the plan “doesn’t make sense” A vast regeneration programme at the New Barnsbury Estate was approved by the council two years ago despite breaking the borough’s 30-metre height rule The project promised to provide 914 new homes over the next decade almost half of which would be available for social rent and was met with cheers by current residents when it was approved in the Town Hall Newlon claims changes to government regulations and “the rising cost of construction” has forced them to expand the project adding up to seven storeys on some of the buildings and increasing the capacity of the estate to 1,140 homes Islington’s planning chief Councillor Martin Klute said that the plan had been in no way agreed with the council and that Newlon should have consulted with planning officers before making its updated “masterplan” public “They’re doing no more than flying kites with that website and consultation,” Cllr Klute said “It’s not been endorsed by the council at all They’ve just put this on the website without even getting agreement from planning officers that it’s anywhere near what might be acceptable they would have spoken to officers first and then consulted on it.” The chair of the planning committee said the proposal to increase the number of households by more than 200 “doesn’t make sense,” adding: “How on earth would the amenities of the estate ever cope with so many people living on it?” On Newlon’s claims that their proposed changes were designed to deal with new government legislation that requires buildings over six storeys to have two separate staircases Cllr Klute said: “They’re stretching that argument quite a long way Obviously we don’t want to lose any of the housing so they’re going to have to redesign to deliver the same number of units” while making room for the extra staircase The new scheme was further branded “pretty provocative” by Ian Shacklock who accused Newlon of “already breaking all the rules of building in a conservation area” He added: “They knew they were breaking council policies but the council in the end had no choice but to give the green light Now they want to bung another six storeys on it.” Mr Shacklock said he had concerns for how taller buildings would negatively impact the “aesthetics and heritage” of the canal He added: “The guidelines for building near a canal is that you slope away from the canal they’re going to rip down the trees to put these very high tower blocks right at the edge of the canal Does this mean we’ll eventually lose the whole skyline I’m not convinced this is the way to do it They are reluctant to build social housing and they just want to ramp up their profits.” A spokesperson for Newlon said: “We have had to review the original plans for the transformation of the Barnsbury Estate in response to changes in building safety requirements “We have developed a new proposed masterplan and are in the initial stages of consulting with residents about these proposals “We will be taking feedback from our residents into account as well as consulting more widely before formalising our plans.” They added: “The homes that we propose to build will comply with the most up to date building safety standards and will be safer for our residents “The number of new social rent homes to be provided in addition to the replacement ones will be discussed as part of the consultation and the formal planning process.” Now this is a way to bring some peace and tranquility to your home.. Interiors There are some homes you just fall in love with the second you see them This penthouse designed Irenie Cossey of Irenie Studio is one such place consultant and curator has revealed this penthouse transformation at Barnsbury Sq in what was a close collaboration with their client They have injected cohesion to the space whilst looking at the constants like the way the penthouse is a place full of light with a dual aspect giving views over the park and courtyard The resulting re-design created a place of comfort with an interesting mix of subtle colours yet remaining serene and calm The transformation enabled a united feel across the penthouse yet giving each individual space its own identity The client's unique personality was reflected in a re-curation of their art collection and the use of vitrines as display and storage piled up memories for meaningful pieces collected from around the world Irenie Cossey says: “Creating cohesion was central to the success of this project The space had huge potential but needed calming and pulling together The client owned beautiful art work and a great collection of books and objects These needed a new landing pad that would bring calmness to a very crowded and outdated space This space was used as a place of work and entertainment so dual usage was key The client had some very particular rituals The way he faced when working was different to how he sat in the evening I wanted to retain and respect these but challenge the seating The mode had to work day and night and using clever lighting and materials allowed this unravel Early on in the process we worked together on a few tasks and quickly reached an aesthetic alignment He was very invested in the design process and decisions Vitrines were the obvious backdrop for this space More private views in private spaces and more public in the living space A moment to reflect and showcase treasures A beautiful piece of joinery was designed for the hall wall These subtle yet considered details play a role in creating surprise areas of stillness in the space.” Working with McCormack Joinery bespoke pieces and fittings were also introduced in the kitchen introduced new materials and acted as display cases for the clients art and design pieces and books In some cases these could be moved to different parts of the penthouse adapting to whatever purpose is required Other key points addressed in the project included; enhancing features of the existing architecture introducing invisible and seamless details using apertures to connect spaces through the penthouse and providing touch points throughout the space Speaking on completion of the project the client Padraig Cronin said; and her talents have turned a ‘place I lived in’ into a proper home I am one of those people who (thinks he) knows what he likes so it was very interesting to see how it is *really* done by someone with Irenie’s talents and skills She understood immediately what I didn’t like about my previous set-up and quickly made me see how a better world was possible And it was very reassuring to have a designer who added to those creative strengths with a keen focus on practical details throughout the process of turning the early design conversations into a finished set of drawings and specifications Two other vital things: Irenie has a positive/can-do outlook which really helps and she got stuck in to make sure builders and tradesmen etc were executing perfectly the vision she had and would recommend her without hesitation.” stamp duty and moving costs see Londoners stay in homes far longer than UK average See inside the most viewed homes on the London property market The secrets of selling London's £40m homes: inside the world of ultra high-end property deals The problem of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) funnelling traffic into Islington’s residential streets combined with the redesign of Highbury Corner roundabout in 2019 has resulted in “off the scale” congestion on Liverpool Road in Barnsbury A campaign group, Save Lungs on Liverpool Road, said the current proposal by Islington Council to create a new “Liveable Neighbourhood” for the area would worsen the level of traffic on the road.  who has lived on the street for 20 years and set up the campaign group in 2023 her street carries more traffic than the nearby A1 (Upper Street).   “The noise pollution is terrible,” Ms Michaelides said “You can’t watch TV… [or] sleep with the windows open People with asthma and health conditions can no longer open their windows.”  After Islington Council released its proposals for the Barnsbury and Laycock Liveable Neighbourhood in September 2023 locals raised concerns that the plans risked redirecting yet more traffic onto the road.  Only 30% of Islington households own a vehicle and residents believe that the majority of the traffic on Liverpool Road does not come from the local area They say motorists travelling from outside of London use it as a through-road to avoid LTN restrictions.  A formal public consultation on the Liveable Neighbourhood plans is set to take place this year.  While the group insists it would accept the proposals if substantial improvements were made Ms Michaelides said she felt that the plans in their current form have been influenced by “ideology” rather than “strategic priorities and plans based on solid data”.  Following the redesign of Highbury Corner and the removal of the roundabout there residents say they noticed that traffic volumes had worsened The group said three-quarters of vehicles on Liverpool Road now use it as a cut-through “We’ve been writing to the council since the Highbury Corner works and saying that they need to do something but they kept putting us off,” Ms Michaelides said.   “We hoped they would tackle the issue as part of the Liveable Neighbourhood proposals… [but] nothing in those proposals is giving us any faith that traffic will be reduced.”  She said locals are experiencing a negative impact on their health and wellbeing as a result of the increased traffic adding that there has been an increased number of “near misses and accidents” due to the installation of new cycleways and floating parking bays that block cyclists from view – especially when vehicles are turning left the group launched formal complaints against Islington Council and TfL for failing to monitor traffic conditions on the road which the organisations pledged to do after the Highbury Corner redesign.   Ms Michaelides is waiting for an official response from the Leader of Islington Council and she said residents want more than “PR soundbites”.   “All we want is a reduction in traffic… and for the neighbourhood to be liveable again,” she said.  Islington Council was contacted for comment.  Tube trains regularly disturbing scores of residents Friday, 7th February — By Daisy Clague NOISE from the Underground is travelling up into people’s houses and regularly disturbing scores of residents in Barnsbury Roughly every 30 seconds between 6.30am and 9am Roger and Clarissa Baldwin hear the rumble and screech of the north and southbound Northern and Victoria lines from their kitchen table in Cloudesley Square – as they have done for the past eight years “It really feels like they are coming to join us for breakfast,” Ms Baldwin said If you’re having a lunch party or something it’s quite difficult to talk to each other.” added: “You almost find yourself waiting for it It affects normal conversation – it really does get that loud.” The tubes were no bother to the Baldwins when they moved into their house 20 years ago but by 2016 the underground racket was audible from their basement and has continued to get worse The only respite came during the pandemic when there were fewer tubes running as well as six “glorious” weeks of quiet last summer thanks to Transport for London grinding the rails underneath Barnsbury Rail grinding is a process that removes “corrugation” – ridges or grooves on the rail surface that can increase noise and vibrations The Baldwins and their neighbours – there are up to 100 people on an email list concerning the issue – have met and written to the London Mayor’s office TfL and MP Emily Thornberry repeatedly over the past eight years or so but nobody seems to know what to do about it,” said Ms Baldwin whose home has twice been monitored for noise by TfL – staff who arrive with Ghostbusters-style equipment – only for them to later admit that the data they had gathered was flawed raised concerns about the wellbeing of their members with Aslef’s union organiser saying noise levels were the worst they have ever been TfL admitted that extreme noise levels on the Victoria line exceeded the legal limit Emily Thornberry told the Tribune that she had been supporting her constituents with the issue of tube noise for several years including liaising with the Greater London Authority and the London Mayor’s office she said she has resumed enquiries with TfL to see if a longer-term solution to the noise can be found – other than grinding the track A TfL spokesperson said: “We understand the importance of minimising noise levels for our customers “We continue to invest significantly in track renewal and mainten­ance including a continuous programme of rail grinding and track modernisation which is our primary tool to tackle the main cause of noise and vibration We have undertaken a significant amount of noise and vibration-related rail grinding in the last six months and will continue to carry out other targeted interventions.” Residents in Liverpool Road say cars are using their street as a ‘bypass’ Friday, 22nd November 2024 — By Isabel Loubser People living in Liverpool Road say their lungs are being choked by traffic A CAMPAIGN group which has been fighting back against excess traffic on their road for more than a year say the council need to now make reducing the number of vehicles a “matter of priority” Residents in Liverpool Road say they have been dealing with a steady increase in the number of cars using their street as a “bypass” over the past five years resulting in huge traffic jams which pose a health hazard and safety risks who started the Save Lungs on Liverpool Road group said: “We just want it to go back to pre-April 2019 when it was a liveable neighbourhood People can’t open windows now because of the noise and the fumes.” She added: “We want Islington Council to fix a mess that they and TfL have made.” The group believe the now “dangerous” situation is down to a combination of factors including the closure of the Highbury Corner roundabout and Transport for London works at Holloway Road These have left Upper Street as a “ghost town” while traffic opts instead to venture down Liverpool Road Data from traffic technology specialist TomTom shows that in 2023 around three-quarters of vehicles chose Liverpool Road as a bypass rather than staying on the A1 and navigating Highbury Corner who lives in the road with her three young children said: “We moved here because it was much quieter loads of friends with families that we can walk to and now this has just become a main road.” So many people have been saying that it’s easier to cross Upper Street than Liverpool Road We just want something major to be done so our road is carrying less traffic than the A1,” Ms Michaelides said Posters can be seen in the windows of houses all along the street calling for action Now the group are worried that a proposed “Liveable Neighbour­hood” scheme in the Barnsbury and Laycock area will make the road even more clogged up and say the council have given them no “concrete” answers on how they plan to implement the scheme while simultaneously reducing congestion in Liverpool Road “I walk to work through Barnsbury and there’s not a car on the road and I leave my house here and it’s dangerous and polluting,” said resident Louisa Howitt Ms Michaelides told the Tribune: “That’s why we were very surprised when they issued the proposal for Barnsbury and Laycock Liveable Neighbourhood because there had never been a problem there the problem had always been Liverpool Road “They are trying to fix something that doesn’t need fixing whilst ignoring the big problem which we’ve asked to be sorted.” She added: “There’s a lot of anger and frustration from residents that it’s been going on for years and years now and why is no one taking any steps to do this,” she added Islington’s environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion said: “We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with local people to create a greener we have completed two phases of engagement for the Barnsbury Liveable Neighbourhood and local people have told us about their concerns regarding traffic “We are working on proposals to address those concerns and to make all streets – including Liverpool Road – greener Cllr Champion added: “In 2025 we will be holding a formal public consultation on the plans before any final decision is taken to implement the proposal and we look forward to hearing from local people Welcome to bdonline.co.uk. 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Read our policy By 2022-12-01T12:03:00+00:00 Barnsbury estate scheme backed by council despite “intensive” densification of the plans made after they were backed in a resident’s ballot Pollard Thomas Edwards' plans for the regeneration Barnsbury estate in Islington have been given the green light Pollard Thomas Edwards’ designs for the regeneration of the Barnsbury Estate in north London have been given the green light despite a series of changes being made to the plans after they were approved in a residents ballot Islington council voted in favour of the hybrid application on Tuesday evening backing the recommendation of the planning officer to approve the scheme Designed for Newlon Housing Trust and property developer Mount Anvil it will see 19 buildings on the site demolished and replaced with 914 new homes two new parks and an expanded community centre Detailed consent was given to the construction of 427 homes in seven buildings up to 13 storeys in height while outline consent was given for the remaining 523 homes in buildings up to nine storeys A separate application has been submitted for an older part of the estate which will be presented to the council’s planning committee for a decision next week Islington’s planning officer said the aim of the wider proposals is to replace around 350 “poor quality” homes which are blighted with “poor internal and external accessibility and permeability large amounts of redundant and inaccessible open space and complicated levels changes” The current estate suffers from overcrowding and substandard residential accommodation and amenity The masterplan was endorsed by 73% of residents on a turnout of 79% in the first estate ballot in the borough the density of the scheme was significantly increased following the ballot with more than a hundred homes added and increases in building heights The planning officer admitted the “intensive” densification had compromised the quality of the initial masterplan but noted that it represented a significant uplift in housing within the borough The plans received more than 200 responses in support and 77 objections with the latter including concerns that the increased number of homes on the site would create a “dense oppressive environment” that would “destroy the area” which break the council’s 30m height limit would “loom” over the adjacent Regent’s canal with one objector calling the loss of daylight a “psychological travesty” Historic England agreed the buildings would “considerably change the character and appearance” of the neighbouring stretch of the canal The Islington Society also said a “wall” of towers along the canalside would “seriously detract from the value of this critical local amenity” While the scheme will include more than 16,000sq m of open space the Society said the huge increase of homes on the site would reduce the amount of green space per dwelling by a third The planning officer concluded the harm created by the proposals including the changes made following the residents’ ballot was outweighed by the provision of 291 improved replacement homes for the estate’s current residents Several members of the public attended the meeting to voice their support Councillor and planning committee member Jason Jackson said: “We would like to see the same engagement across every other development in Islington Look at all the happy residents clapping and cheering Pollard Thomas Edwards partner Tricia Patel said: “The transformation of The Barnsbury Estate is a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve the lives of residents and the local community The proposals are the result of four years of collaboration between residents Housebuilder planning to double number of homes on scheme and triple height of buildings to 26 storeys Pollard Thomas Edwards and Buckley Gray Yeoman set to work with residents on housing and workspace proposals The centre will contain buildings up to nine storeys in height Plans designed by Gensler for a £1bn cancer research and treatment centre in south London have been submitted for planning by developers Aviva Capital Partners and Socius Retrofit of 150 Aldersgate includes new terraces a reconfigured entrance and a public art installation Howells also scoops two awards for Birmingham office scheme and a cafe at a grade I-listed country house Bilbao Guggenheim architect’s only UK project set to be extended with cosntruction starting this year Site powered by Webvision Cloud Working with the Terence MacSwiney Committee Islington Council has unveiled a plaque dedicated to Michael Collins an Irish Nationalist leader who campaigned and fought for Irish independence in the early 20th Century The plaque was unveiled on Friday 14 July in Barnsbury Street where Collins was initiated into the secret organisation Collins went on to become a well-known figure in the independence movement both through the original Irish Republican Army and the political party Sinn Féin He was also a key figure in the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty which established the Irish Free State in 1922 Collins is seen by many as a unifying figure At a ceremony marking the centenary of his death in August 2022 Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin gave a speech asserting that Collins should “be remembered as one of the greatest Irishmen to have ever lived.” The unveiling event was attended by politicians from both London and Ireland highlighting the council’s commitment to celebrating the cultural diversity of the borough and the huge contributions of the local Irish community said: “The Irish community in Islington has contributed so much to our borough over many decades In recent months we have unveiled the mural at Navigator Square to celebrate our Irish community and this plaque for Michael Collins is another example of our recognition Migrant communities make up so much of our borough so it is vital that we celebrate their contribution and our diversity.” said: “The Irish community in London has a long and proud history It is fitting that this plaque will reflect how living in London shaped Michael Collins’ political outlook which in turn had great influence in the foundation of the Irish State It is important to recognise those key moments in our history and the strong contribution of our Irish community here in London .” The council has now installed more than 50 plaques at different locations across the borough showcasing its rich and colourful heritage through the stories of notable historical people Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ Newlon Housing Trust has announced that it will go ahead with plans to redevelop an estate in Islington after a majority of tenants voted in favour of the scheme in a residents’ ballot To continue reading this article pleaseLogin or Register Developer Mount Anvil and Newlon housing association have got the planning thumbs up to redevelop an Islington housing estate in North London with more than 900 new homes Mount Anvil is now aiming to start construction work in March 2023 on what will be a 10-year redevelopment programme All Newlon residents will get a new home reprovided as part of the scheme with 46 overcrowded households all getting a new and more energy-efficient home of the correct size for their family Newlon and Mount Anvil have been working closely with residents for three years Illustration of what the Barnsbury Estate will look like on completion The estate is divided into “New Barnsbury” made up of 371 homes built in the post-war period New Barnsbury would be entirely demolished and replaced with 914 new homes while Old Barnsbury would be retrofitted with new insulation CEO of Mount Anvil said: “We’re truly delighted to be delivering more quality supported by Islington Council and our funders at the GLA learning and co-designing with Barnsbury residents a cleaner healthier and more sustainable community which everyone can be proud of.” a four-bedroom house is for sale backing on to a ‘hidden gem’ nature reserve Homes & Property | Luxury renting and decorating in London from our award-winning experts I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice a house next to London’s smallest local nature reserve is sure to tempt home buyers emerging from lockdown with nearby green space on their wish list The £2.55 million property, in the Barnsbury Conservation area in Islington has a generous rear garden with a dogleg section running along the back of neighbouring gardens as one of only about 20 backing on to the hidden gem that is Barnsbury Wood The nature reserve was originally the garden of St Andrew’s Church vicarage home of Victorian property developer George Thornhill He built the surrounding houses in the 1840s The plot was abandoned to nature and then became woodland which was saved from development in the Nineties by local campaigners It is now the largest area of woodland in the borough of Islington the wood is home to wildlife including the long-tailed tit Open to the public on Tuesday afternoons and Saturdays during summer it is used by nurseries and schools for environmental education classes At other times the site is left undisturbed offering a rare haven of peace and privacy less than a mile from King’s Cross many of its near neighbours don’t even know it exists “Only a handful of houses back on to Barnsbury Wood so this is an extremely rare opportunity,” says Adam Smith of Savills in Islington “While the houses don’t have right of access themselves outside the public opening hours, they have the tremendous benefit of looking on to a wood within inner London homes near the wood tend to grab a lot of interest when they come on to the market and we’ve already had several people come to view this one.” The four-bedroom house is for sale for the first time in 30 years The current owners brought up their family there and there’s plenty of scope to modernise to a new owner’s tastes Planning permission was given to add an extra floor with another bedroom bathroom and terrace overlooking the wood but it lapsed last year Find out more here Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Estate refurb paused due to government’s fire safety announcement Friday, 15th September 2023 — By Izzy Rowley TENANTS and leaseholders have been left in limbo after a major transformation of their estate by a housing association was “paused” Uncertainty now wraps the plan to demolish the New Barnsbury estate part of the larger Barnsbury estate that sits between King’s Cross and Angel The halt follows a government announcement that all buildings over 18 metres tall will now require two staircases as a fire safety precaution who lives in Mavor House in the New Barnsbury estate if I have to sell this property back to [housing association] Newlon I’d like to know when exactly my building is going to be demolished so I can plan the very few years I have left so should I wait and see what’s going to happen Should I wait for this building to be demolished?” Charlene Smith is a Newlon Housing tenant in Crispe House who says the delay has left her with a flat that isn’t up to standard and we’ve had a lot of drainage problems,” she said so there’s damp that you’re not always seeing but you can smell it to know that my block is scheduled near the end of the [demolition] phase anyway and they haven’t even started – what does that mean for me I’m hoping for a miracle now so they just get on with it.” Wissem Kabouch lives in Mavor House with his family who are “disappointed” by the delay We waited for seven years on the waiting list to get this flat so now the only choice I have is to wait for them [the developers],” he said but you can see how damaging this is for all future building projects if the government intends to apply this retrospectively and not allow the usual grace period.” When announcing that this new regulation would be coming housing secretary Michael Gove said: “This is a considered and gradual evolution of safety standards when taken with our other fire safety measures and reforms ensures the safety of people in all tall buildings – both new and existing.” Wissem Kabouch: ‘The only choice I have is to wait’ A spokesperson from Newlon Housing Trust said: “We have reluctantly decided to temporarily pause the first phase of demolition works on the Barnsbury Estate due to some anticipated new building safety requirements from the government “These are expected to be announced in the autumn This pause will allow us to fully assess the design of all homes in accordance with these new requirements We have already written to all residents to explain this difficult decision “There are no plans not to continue with the Barnsbury estate transformation and we will be further updating residents once we’ve completed our review following the publication of the expected new requirements.” In a letter sent out to residents on Monday Newlon Housing said they understood the pause would be “disappointing but we need to ensure we build homes that meet the relevant regulations” Hundreds of residents affected by one of the largest redevelopment schemes in a generation Friday, 2nd December 2022 — By Anna Lamche An artist’s drawing of how the dramatic changes to the New Barnsbury Estate could look in 10 years AN estate is set for a complete “transformation” after being given the green light by planning bosses this week in one of the borough’s largest redevelopment schemes in a generation New Barnsbury Estate, part of the larger Barnsbury Estate that sits between King’s Cross and Angel is set to be demolished and rebuilt after proposals were approved by the planning committee on Tuesday night Barnsbury Estate is divided into “New Barnsbury” New Barnsbury will be entirely demolished and replaced by 914 new homes almost tripling the density of people living on the site The developer plans to build several tall buildings of seven some of which will break the council’s 30-metre height rule Just under half of these new homes will be offered for social rent residents in the upper gallery clapped when the council gave permission to Newlon’s plans which it will deliver alongside property developer Mount Anvil over a 10-year period Nadia Noryaly and Hodan Adan are among those backing the plans who lives with her husband and three young children on the estate “Some of the problems in New Barnsbury that we have at the moment include damp in the buildings those living in social housing will be offered replacement homes once the new development is built Leaseholders will have their current flats bought from them and will be given the first chance to buy back into the estate once building work is complete according to chair of the planning committee The building project will be phased over a period of roughly 10 years with each household decanted into temporary accommoda­tion while their blocks are demolished and rebuilt Arsenal councillor Bashir Ibrahim was the only councillor not to vote in favour of the plans calling instead for the decision to be deferred “I’m just worried about the precedent this sets for developments in Islington We are permitting tall buildings that go against our policies,” he said said green space per resident would be reduced by some 60 per cent the plan to build 46 per cent affordable homes will leave Newlon in a £19m deficit which the housing association will attempt to recuperate through increasing the value of private homes for sale St Mary’s and St James’ councillor Hannah McHugh asked planning officers: “Are you absolutely satisfied that the applicant will be able to see this project through to completion?” Mount Anvil CEO Killian Hurley said: “We have sufficient resources to start and to complete this scheme.” The application received 77 objections and 204 letters of support raised concerns about the proportional loss of green space on the estate “Whilst in this case the applicant claims that the amount of green surface in the New Barnsbury Estate will remain constant it will be reduced by 60 per cent per head due to increased resident numbers,” he said Alic ter Meulen objected over concerns her solar panels would be overshadowed by the tower blocks There are also concerns that the new estate will not be maintained properly by Newlon continuing an alleged pattern of neglect currently at work on the estate “The estate has been purposefully run down by Newlon Completed blocks will then be insufficiently maintained by Newlon,” reads one objection listed in planning documents While councillors acknowledged problems with the scheme – including a loss of retail space on the side of the development facing onto Caledonian Road the carbon footprint of demolition and over­shadowing caused by tall buildings – many said they were convinced by the “uplift” in social homes created by the scheme Islington currently has 14,000 people on the council homes waiting list and the local Labour party has pledged to deliver “at least” 1,550 new affordable and social rent homes by 2026 In the heart of the Barnsbury Conservation Area you’ll find an immaculately presented Georgian Villa with private established gardens and spacious accommodation to suit any needs Containing many of the best examples of formal late-Georgian/early-Victorian residential developments in London the Barnsbury Conservation Area in Islington is one of London’s finest Within the heart of it you will find this Grade II-listed, double-fronted and detached property on Barnsbury Park It arrives onto the market via Savills with a guide price of £9.5 million With more than 5,000sq ft of living space spread over three floors this is a ‘countryside home’ with all the appeal of living in central London Tall ceilings and large sash windows provide plenty of space and light — the study in particular benefits from two impressive floor-to-ceiling arched windows overlooking the garden The first floor consists of seven bedrooms and the entertaining areas are concentrated on the ground and ‘garden’ floors This includes a well-sized gym which opens up to the rear garden and a versatile family-style kitchen with a large central island and a range cooker helping to create that country-in-the-city feel The gardens are certainly not to be overlooked: the front offers an extremely attractive entrance to the property whereas the rear has been beautifully landscaped and maintained offering year-round delight and privacy with mature trees and a patio area for al fresco dining one of London’s best (according to me) is just down the road But it’s not all just great pubs and restaurants — transport links are plentiful with stations at Caledonian Road & Barnsbury and Highbury and Islington This Georgian Villa on Barnsbury Park is currently on the market via Savills with a guide price of £9.5 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details. towns and small cities which are a pleasure to live in James FisherDeputy Digital EditorJames Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life ‘Proposals will make it close to impossible to travel within Barnsbury or across it by car or van’ I am appalled at the recently announced LV Contrary to what we were promised during the “engagement and consultation” charade of the past few months with no less than 15 road closures or “filters” If implemented these proposals will make it close to impossible to travel within Barnsbury or across it by car or van Traffic will be diverted on to surrounding main roads causing more congestion hot spots Journey times will be increased significantly and serious hardship for those who rely for whatever reason on motorised transport – the old anyone who values deliveries or visits from tradespeople In particular we know from previous LTNs in Islington that these proposals will be disastrous for local trade and small businesses The local economy will be permanently damaged What to do about it? I suggest that all Barnsbury residents study the proposals carefully on the Islington Council website at https://www.letstalk.islington.gov.uk/barnsbury-laycock-liveable-neighbourhood then use the various means described to have your say via email if you agree that this represents a catastrophic failure of urban planning join us at Keep Barnsbury Moving and Keep Islington Moving (website address below) to demand that Islington Council halts all plans to extend their LTN programme into Barnsbury and reverses the failed LTN schemes already imposed elsewhere in the borough Eglal Gomaa says a new cycle lane was the final straw for Girasole • R WALFORD’S May 10 letter (A liveable neighbourhood is good for businesses) does not acknowledge the problems independent businesses and shops and larger retailers are already experiencing because of congestion on Islington’s main roads caused by LTNs The response to Mehmet Ozer’s worries (We need to keep Barnsbury moving, May 3) that deliveries both to and from his shop are already taking longer and will be even worse if east-west closures across Bransbury and Laycock are implemented is ignored by R Walford it is argued that reducing traffic is “good for businesses” and the letter writer mentions studies in Graz in Austria San Francisco and one road in London to support this argument How relevant are these studies to businesses and shops on Caledonian and Holloway roads Penton Road and Chapel Market and other local retailers And interestingly, in the same edition of the Tribune, a café owner stated that a cycle lane was responsible for cutting business by 50 per cent and partly responsible for the closure of her shop, (End of the road for cafe as owner says cycle lane cut business’s sales in half) We have recently carried out a survey of over 100 shops in Caledonian Road and over 97 per cent were against any further road restrictions in Barnsbury and Laycock Longer delivery times to and from shops were again mentioned as important factors together with the increased congestion and pollution on some of the adjoining main roads which will become significantly worse if there are further traffic restrictions Similar concerns are raised by shops and stalls in Chapel Market and independent businesses on Upper Street A recent independent survey by the business community representing a large number of retailers in the Upper Street and Chapel Market area arrived at the same conclusion namely that it is extremely important for the viability of all businesses that the north-south east-west axes across Barnsbury and Laycock remain unfiltered and open would cause considerably longer journeys and diversions onto main roads causing further congestion and pollution London is a working city with over nine million people; it is a vibrant capital which relies on an effective road network to service the needs of residents and all of those who rely on vehicles to make a living It is time to reconsider the proposals put forward for Barnsbury and Laycock and have a pan-London approach to traffic management for this very complex issue • THE residents of the Barnsbury Estate have been concerned at the lack of clarity on key aspects of the proposed redevelopment of the estate coming from Newlon, (Estate vision unveiled for 10-year transformation, June 17) We have three key concerns: the status of rehousing existing overcrowded households; the proposed social segregation between leaseholders and social tenants; and the status of Old Barnsbury Many families in Newlon accommodation are overcrowded and have two households within one such as parents and adult children Despite our repeated questions to Newlon on how this will be dealt with The redevelopment will see current leaseholders move into leaseholder-only blocks along with new leaseholders buying onto the estate Many residents are uncomfortable that leaseholders will have different buildings situated around the green space and by Barnard park While Newlon and Mount Anvil have proposed grand plans for New Barnsbury the proposals for Old Barnsbury are weak and Newlon have not even clarified who will carry out the work Initially the two projects were on the same planning application and the same vote for redevelopment but Newlon have bizarrely separated the planning applications despite winning the transformation vote Barnsbury-wide Newlon spent many months speaking of grand plans on eco-friendly heating systems and extensions but it has not actually submitted a planning application to carry this out Overall the feeling on the estate is that Newlon is not adequately engaging with residents They attained a ballot of residents during lockdown when no neighbours could discuss plans Some had even felt pressured to vote as a result of managed decay by Newlon Every point raised by residents is disregarded as there is the attitude that the estate vote is a blank cheque We residents hope that the council listens even if Newlon does not Barnsbury plan gets a mixed response from residents Friday, 17th June 2022 — By Anna Lamche 950 new homes would be built on the estate if the Newlon scheme gets the go-ahead A “HUGE” redevelopment that would transform an estate in the heart of the borough has been submitted to the Town Hall’s planning tsars Sitting between King’s Cross and the Angel Barnsbury Estate could be altered beyond recognition under plans recently submitted by Newlon Housing Association to the council New Barnsbury would be entirely demolished and replaced with 950 new homes This would take the total number of homes on the estate up from the current total of 646 to 1225 Every social housing tenant in New Barnsbury has been promised a “like-for-like” swap from an old home to a new one on the estate more than 70 per cent of residents who voted in a ballot said yes to the regeneration scheme which will be overseen by property developer Mount Anvil Developers say the work would be phased over a period of roughly 10 years with each household decanted into temporary accommodation while their blocks are demolished and rebuilt When the Tribune visited the estate this week residents expressed a range of views on the planning application “We need more rooms because of overcrowding,” said Awo of Messiter House “My kids are sleeping in the same room and Islington Council couldn’t give me a new flat,” she said Pauline expressed concern at the height of some of the proposed buildings Three blocks overlooking the canal will stand at 11 all of which will break the council’s 30-metre height rule said he is in a “sticky situation” because he lives with his parents but needs his own home which Newlon Housing has said they will be unable to provide “The council needs to start providing housing for young adults,” he said You can’t just offer people private accommodation.” said she could understand why others wanted a new flat given conditions of “damp and mould” that exist in some of the tower blocks she said she wasn’t prepared for the disruption and was currently looking to move before building begins Critics of the application warn the building works will be disruptive and lead to “excessive densification” of the site “This is about the same size and density as for the Holloway jail site,” said local architect James Dunnett He warned that green space on the site would be “more overshadowed” with “more people trying to use it” leading to “very much less green space per head” He said of the plans: “It’s comparable to what is going on all over London The deal is: hand it all over to a private developer who will rebuild the whole place rebuild the affordable stock and pocket the extra.” He said the building would alter the character of the surrounding area where the tall blocks would overshadow the historic Angel tunnel and “cut off any feeling of connection between the existing estate and the canal” This is a worry echoed by the Friends of Regent’s Canal. Caledonian Road would also be transformed with the new blocks made taller and “moved forward” to touch the pavement line totally different from what Caledonian Road feels like now,” Mr Dunnett said Islington is currently in the grip of a housing crisis with over 14,000 people waiting for a council home the council has not yet set a date for the application to be heard by the planning committee said: “There is a distinct possibility some changes will need to be made to the scheme and those will need to be consulted on again – we might hit a committee date sometime in the autumn.” A spokesperson for Newlon Housing said: “Newlon has invested and continues to invest millions of pounds on the upkeep and ongoing maintenance of the Barnsbury Estate each year The design and construction of the New Barnsbury housing means that long-term issues such as damp mould and thermal inefficiency cannot be solved through ongoing or piecemeal maintenance for individual flats or blocks “In order to find the best way to address these issues we consulted extensively with residents on the estate who voted overwhelmingly in favour of transforming the estate in an estate-wide ballot “The plans for the estate will deliver high quality and provide new public parks and enhanced green spaces as well as additional and improved facilities for the local community “We believe that they will significantly enhance the neighbourhood They will also provide a unique opportunity to resolve issues such as overcrowding for the estate’s residents and bring much needed new affordable housing to borough the wider local community and stakeholders ahead of the planning submission The Friends of the Regent’s Canal were invited to two public consultation sessions.” This period property is accessed via a secret door in the back of the shop on the ground floor Homes & Property | Property News this Victorian terraced house in Islington appears to be a shop — complete with a vintage hand-painted sign above the door Barnsbury Stores on Hemingford Road still has all the setup from its previous incarnation as a purveyor of wine you walk through the wooden door and past the built-in shop counter and shelves to reach a spacious five-bedroom house On the market for £1.8 million with Drivers & Norris the four-storey home includes a private back garden Below the house is an extensive basement with multiple storage rooms along with a separate bedroom and bathroom and access to the garden with a dining room and kitchen to the rear The building is a period property dating from the Victorian era and includes original features such as a cast iron fireplace Upstairs there is a living room and the principal bedroom which has a balcony leading down to the courtyard garden There are three more bedrooms on the second floor "The buildings is thought to offer an opportunity for development and modernisation opportunity subject to the necessary consents," said the agents Planning documents from 2020 suggest the current owners have lived at the property for over 30 years running the shop until they decided to close in 2018 after it no longer became commercially viable The house is in the Barnsbury Conservation Area which has been protected due to its high concentration of late Georgian and early Victorian homes and the shopfront has been identified as a structure to be retained to preserve the character of the street The property on Hemingford Road is registered as a mixed use residential and retail building, and buyers would need to note that converting a shop into residential use is trickier in a conservation area Fully converting a shop into a residence in Islington may require a contribution to the council's affordable housing fund but this is decided on a case-by-case basis Shoreditch building where artists Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas had their legendary shop for sale for £1.5m Why I live in Islington: Arva CEO Abisola Omole on her ‘calm £2 million converted pub in Stoke Newington with the bar still in the living room It does have the benefit of being sold freehold so the buyer would own the land it's built on outright — so no need to fret about the years left on the lease For inspiration, this former shop in Shoreditch once run by artists Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas was converted into a four bedroom home by its current owner who has just put it on the market for £1.5 million Police called as crowds get rowdy after being shut out of 'Liveable Neighbourhood' meeting Friday, 18th November 2022 — By Charlotte Chambers POLICE were called to break up arguments between supporters and critics of Islington’s new traffic schemes on Tuesday A council meeting held at Islington West Library was designed to be the first in a series of public engagement events to discuss a new “Liveable Neighbourhood” scheme (LNs) in Barnsbury – which will include new road ­closures to cars But it ended in chaos after just 30 minutes after someone triggered the fire alarm Earlier there had been chants of “Cancel the meeting” from some of the more than 100 ­people who had been unable to gain entrance to the small meeting room They said they were angry about the meeting going ahead without them and called it “undemocratic” Islington’s environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion faced calls from the crowds to step down from her role She told them: “I absolutely apologise for not getting a big enough room Her colleague Labour councillor Praful ­Nargund – who had also been at the meeting – criticised the behaviour of what he said was a “small minority” Pointing to the landslide council election secured by Islington Labour in May he added: “We have a huge mandate from the people in the borough and [Liveable Neighbourhoods] was a key part of our manifesto and we’re doing exactly what we set out to do.” LNs – as spelt out in their manifesto – will limit traffic on local streets to reduce “the impact of toxic air pollution for local people” as well as make it safer and more pleasant to cycle Children from Offord Road taking their letters to the council after the meeting But many who came to the meeting on Tuesday said they were worried the council had already “made up its mind” about closing off more streets and said they should have ended the meeting when it became clear many would not be able to take part It follows the ongoing debate over Islington’s range of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) which include road closures and were brought in with what opponents say was limited consultation who managed to get a spot inside the meeting room said: “We’re being fed the same BS – they think they’ve got the right to close down our streets and tell us to walk and cycle They’re going to make it this wonderful place for us – it is a wonderful place and they’re trying to tell me how to live in my own home.” called the LTN in her area “an outright disaster” that has simply displaced traffic to the boundary roads a filmmaker who recorded the evening’s events for his YouTube channel Islington Free News Media suggested the decision on Barnsbury LN should be delivered by “a neutral steering group – judges and doctors and magistrates who have a long legacy of being able to make rationalised decisions about what should go ahead” and one group who want to see change in Barnsbury are the Offord Road Green Alliance which started up in response to what they saw as an “inequitable” amount of traffic thundering down their residential road in comparison to neighbouring roads with none or nearly none since LTNs were introduced who estimates her road sees 15,000 vehicles a day said: “The Offord Road Green Alliance is looking for an equitable solution to traffic pollution and road safety in Barnsbury “At the moment our street is disproportionately affected by the traffic flow in the neighbourhood “There were lots of people saying there’s not a problem with traffic in Barnsbury but there is a problem with traffic in Offord Road – because we take all the traffic in Barnsbury.” Cllr Champion said “we must reimagine our streets” by making them less polluted She added consultation will continue for a year before any changes are brought in and promised “we will work to ensure that as many people as possible can participate in future meetings” • THE worries on the Barnsbury estate are continuing to grow the workshop area occupied by maintenance staff and caretakers was closed due to a discovery of asbestos What worries me is: what about the rest of the estate Landlord Newlon Housing Trust conducted surveys in 2013 and as recently as September 2018 We live on an old industrial estate and I have no doubt there is asbestos in other areas of it Newlon should put in the millions it promised us starting with a block-to-block asbestos check after this latest scare Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Residents back overhaul that could see as many as 600 extra homes built Friday, 26th March 2021 — By Calum Fraser An artist’s drawing of how the estate will look A MAJOR overhaul of a housing estate is set to go ahead after residents backed the redevelopment in a ballot The Barnsbury estate could see as many as 600 extra homes built on the site More than 70 per cent of residents who voted in a ballot said yes to the regeneration scheme The scheme is split into two sections – “New Barnsbury” and “Old Barnsbury” New Barnsbury consists of 17 housing blocks running down to Caledonian Road with 351 homes that were built in the 1950s and 1970s These are set to be bulldozed and rebuilt with the extra homes in a new tower blocks say they will aim to provide 50 per cent affordable homes across the estate made up of a mix of social rent and “intermediate housing” who helped residents challenge a plan to build an extra building on the estate more than a decade ago said: “ If I lived in the new part of the Barnsbury estate I would be totally opposed to this “It’s going to be totally disruptive and the end result will be a far more dense and intense feeling.” The 1930s brick buildingss dubbed “Old Barnsbury” will not be demolished but will undergo refurbishment The scheme could take up to ten years to finish from Newlon said: “This result shows clearly that residents want the Barnsbury Estate Transformation project to proceed “We believe the project is a once in a generation opportunity to fix overcrowding and ensure that current and future residents have comfortable beautiful homes whilst creating new affordable homes for those on Islington’s housing list.” from charming backstreet boozers to good old-fashioned inns RECOMMENDED: Don't forget to check out Islington's best restaurants.    Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines Photograph: Joe MackertichOn an unremarkable backstreet in the Hackney/Islington borders is an old pub with a story. An all-too-familiar story in the world of the urban boozer: developers submit planning application to demolish and replace with residential units. Luckily, the neighbourhood stepped in to save this local legend. Find brilliant beers, toasties and those locals who cherish it most.  RecommendedGeorge Orwell was often found drinking at The Compton Arms in Islington, and if there’s one thing we know about Orwell, it’s that he knew a good pub when he saw one. Traditional ales remain on cask, London craft beers are poured or you can choose from a small but thoughtful wine list. There's also excellent food to be found here too.  Photograph: The Myddleton ArmsA characterful, cheerful pub that is just about hidden enough to ensure its clientele remains mainly local. The Myddleton Arms is a special place with great staff whose patience, affability and talent give the place its immensely appealing vibe. It’s also one of those rare boozers that’s appropriare for all seasons. Hot and sunny? Have a burger and a crisp lager in the beer garden? Cold and dark? Enjoy a nourishing ale by the fire. Photograph: Courtesy of The Hemingford ArmsGiven that it's hidden among some of N1's most covetable residential streets and the barbed-wire-decked back of Pentonville Prison, the Hemingford Arms has to cater for a wide range of locals. It does so beautifully in its own kooky way via an out-of-tune piano, Thai food and scrappy pub dogs. The building is made extra beautiful on the outside by leafy swathes of ivy and pretty hanging baskets. Photograph: Jess HandThe Shakespeare's Head may look a little daunting from the outside Don’t be shy: this salt-of-the-earth local extends a warm welcome to all It’s hard to imagine a pub with fewer pretensions than this place standard-issue pub carpets and plump seating The 1970s feel extends to the beer and the sandwich counter and the walls are lined with 1980s headshots of local actors.  Recommended© Matt CheethamThis icon of Essex Road goes large on 'proper drinks' fine food and lots of leather sofas to kick back in espresso martinis are as popular as craft lagers entertaining quizzes and wild nights on weekend nights A gastropub with a difference, this canalside joint is a little slice of New Orleans in Angel. Food is excellent and cajun and creole-inspired, while regular live jazz adds to a laidback Louisiana feeling. Come for weekend brunch of eggs sardou, southern fried chicken and beigents. Laissez les bons temps rouler.  © Monica RocheThis cheery, capacious and altogether likeable corner pub is a go-to in De Beauvoir town. The kitchen proves popular, but it’s more than likely that the garden at the foot of this pub is what draws in most punters. On Sundays, bloody marys made with peppery vodka join an otherwise straightforward drinks list. Island QueenThis Islington gin palace is a notch above most of its N1 competitors, thanks to the wide selection of beers and wine. Inside, high ceilings tower over etched mirrors and abundant greenery; there are a couple of outdoor tables too. Even when it’s busy, the height of the rooms means acoustics that allow easy conversation. But the Island Queen’s main asset is that it has personality in spades: it’s a proper pub for people who want a proper drink. The Old Red Lion is most famous for the matchbox-sized fringe theatre that sits above it, staging no-budget productions of plays both old and (mostly) new. But the pub itself shouldn’t be overlooked: it’s not quite a world away from the boisterous boozers on Upper Street, but it’s certainly a welcome relief. The Canonbury Tavern is a Young’s pub that as preened as you’d expect If you’re used to Kernel and Weird Beard you may find Young’s beer timid by comparison But the scotch eggs served here are nothing short of a revelation THE keys to solving the murder of Karen Reed on her doorstep in Woking 27 years ago lie in the people and streets around the Barnsbury Estate where the shooting took place said too much attention has been paid to whether or not Karen was the intended victim of a suspected contract killer on 30 April 1994 was shot five times after opening her door in Willow Way at 9.15pm to a man holding a pizza box “The important thing is that there is the loss of an innocent woman The fact that the target was probably Karen’s sister has very little relevance to the person who did the killing,” said DI Hicks of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crimes Team A renewed appeal for information was made recently as Operation Lilac and featured on Crimewatch Live Police believe the intended target was Karen’s sister Alison was given a double life sentence for the murder of the former Chechen premier and his brother in London Alison had recently moved to live in Karen’s house police followed a red Vauxhall Cavalier being driven suspiciously officers examined the car and found an automatic pistol fitted with a silencer a large commando knife in a leather sheath a black Delsey bag and a rare Olney blue tartan cap DI Hicks said: “It was clear to the officers who gave chase to the red Cavalier that the driver didn’t know where he was going “The estate is a bit of a swine to get off Police have said the driver ran off onto open land “There was a comprehensive house-to-house inquiry and people might have information that they thought was not important The keys to solving this case could be something that is seemingly inconsequential,” DI Hicks said DI Hicks said new information is being sought now because people who didn’t feel it was safe to come forward may feel safer now because of the passage of time “Relationships change and people may be willing to speak,” he said He also pointed out that Karen would have been 60 this year DI Hicks said: “The other reason we are picking this up is because people might no longer be around in a few years a normal person who was just having a night in.” Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to contact the Operation Lilac team on 01483 639969 officers can be contacted via webchat on the website surrey.police.uk or by calling 101 Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 get the 8 April edition of the Woking News & Mail Tel: 01483 802700[email protected]Follow us About three years ago our parish decided to look at the idea of children taking communion While we may not be typical (we have three churches the process we went through might be useful to others as they consider this issue We began by discussing the issue in our staff meetings and looking at the theology and questions behind children taking communion As a result of this we recommended that we allowed children to take communion for three key reasons: It’s important to say that this did not mean that every child would now take communion We recognised that there may be some parents who didn’t want their child taking communion and for them the option of just receiving a blessing remained We wanted children to take the act of communion seriously so before they could take the bread and the wine they had to do a four-session course covering the basics of Christianity and what communion means One additional point to add is that we initially set an age limit on children who could take communion those in Year 3 or above (over seven years old) this has proved to be a useful rule of thumb What was the feedback from the PCC and the congregations Many parents of children who were regular attenders were glad they now had the opportunity to participate in communion A few parents were unsure during the initial year but many of them have wanted their children to take communion in subsequent years The only negative feedback we received was what would this mean for confirmation we’d also looked at our policy on confirmation Our view was that this could make confirmation more meaningful for the individual as confirmation would now be a statement of a candidate’s personal Rather than being something they would ‘need’ to do to take communion we recommended the individual would wait until they wanted to make a public declaration of their own faith Admitting children for communion has meant we have had to make some changes to the service We moved communion to the end of the service so the children could return take part and we use a version of the liturgy that is appropriate for all ages It also means that once a year we make space in the service to welcome those who are taking communion for the first time We want to mark taking communion as an important step on our journey with God So three years on how do we feel about children taking communion I would say it’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience By putting down clear guidelines at the start it means very few (I’m struggling to think of any) families have ‘abused’ the system It has forced us to think about the role of children in our church and the importance of milestones in our faith journey It has allowed the church to see that children can have a real relationship with God and an authentic faith it has allowed many of the children in our church to show they belong to Jesus and they belong to the people of God Stephen Mawhinney is Children’s Worker in Barnsbury Parish Parishes wishing to explore admitting children to Holy Communion should consult the Diocese of London’s guidelines ©2024 Diocese Of London | Manage Consent | Website If you're hoping to broaden your view on wine and maybe break a little bit of out your comfort zone then the arrival of new Islington wine bar and shop Must & Lees is for you this is the passion project of drinks expert Chris Cassell Having worked in the booze industry for 15 years doing everything from managing cocktail bars to working in the English wine industry he made the decision during lockdown to open a place of his own he wants customers to break their usual wine buying habits and to that end opportunities to meet wine producers and even take part in WSET courses The neighbourhood spot is split into two rooms - a bottle shop in the front and a tasting room in the back with a weekly rotating selection of wines by the glass and they'll even offer EuroCave wine storage for your special bottles Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @mustandlees Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here • RESIDENTIAL densities are not set in stone, but Newlon Housing Association’s plans for their post-war “new” Barnsbury Estate, on which residents are currently being asked to vote, take one’s breath away, (The future of Barnsbury Estate is in the balance, February 26). They will almost triple its density, requiring it totally to be rebuilt. The footprint of buildings on the site will double, leading to a reduction of nearly two acres in open space – paved and green – compared with the present, including the loss of numerous trees. Although there have been encroachments already on this open space, including the notorious Phelps Lodge flats built on a grass lawn between Messiter House and Copenhagen Street by Newlon itself about 12 years ago, the green space and trees are one of the attractions of the estate most often mentioned by residents during consultations on this new project so far. Although Newlon attempt to reassure them that somehow landscaping will be “improved”, they should be under no illusion that the present open, quiet, green, character will be maintained with the proposed new layout, accommodating perhaps an extra 1,800 to 2,000 people with open space reduced by 20 per cent. It will be a harder darker environment. The pre-war brick blocks of the smaller “old” Barnsbury Estate on Penton Street are to be refurbished as part of the same package, and their residents have everything to gain, while the residents of the “new” estate running down to Caledonian Road have, it seems to me, everything to lose. So should they both be voting on the same package? Half the new units will be sold off. Housing associations should surely be able to look after and manage their housing without periodical resort to exploitative projects of this kind. Two riders die in British Supersport Championship crash after 11-bike pile-up activist and writer Gillian Anderson has become a recognisable face in the UK film industry since playing some of Britain's prominent public figures in award-winning movies Despite being widely recognised as a British actress meaning she can switch comfortably between an English and American accent The Chicago-born star reportedly lives in London with her three children having brought her first home in the city around Nottinghill’s most acclaimed Portobello Street She moved to the area in 2002 because most of her friends lived there but reports state that the star later snapped up a townhouse in Barnsbury Gillian Anderson reportedly lived in London for several years as a child The star’s £4.65million townhouse is at the heart of an elegant oasis between Islington and King’s Cross became a popular hub among the affluent Jewish community in the 1860s with one of its streets crowned the city’s quietest in 2013 Barnsbury is one of inner London’s most beautiful areas tucked away between Upper Street and Caledonian Road People favour the area for its Georgian homes and little green enclaves according to the property news outlet Placebuzz the website states that “Islington in general inspires loyalty from its residents” It added: “Some would argue that the fact that locals and people starting families move out and get replaced by City bankers and lawyers is to the detriment of the area’s community feel no place with large groups of writers and other specific kinds of people is entirely without a sense of community.” When Former Labour leader Tony Blair still lived in his Richmond Crescent home Barnsbury Square was crowned the capital’s most tranquil road rivalling other areas like Richmond and Wapping A score of other celebrities have moved to the borough of Islington over the years Barnsbury was one of the home of Tony Blair Gillian had spent some of her former years as a child in London before moving back to the city as an adult in 2002 She featured in The House of Mirth in 2002 winning critical acclaim and the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress One of her latest portrayals was of British journalist Emily Maitlis in the new movie Scoop an insider account about how Newsnight secured their 2019 interview with Prince Andrew on his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Other complex characters Anderson has played over her 30-year career include Margaret Thatcher in The Crown and Jean Milburn in Sex Education Welcome to housingtoday.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy Trusted media brand of the Chartered Institute of Housing By 2022-12-02T09:19:00+00:00 The New Barnsbury Estate proposals include demolition of all existing buildings  Islington Council has given developer Mount Anvil and Newlon housing association the green-light to deliver over 900 homes in an estate redevelopment programme.   Planners agreed on Tuesday to give full permission for the demolition of existing buildings and 401 properties to be built on the New Barnsbury Estate in north London.  They gave outline permission to knock down the remaining buildings on the estate and build up to 513 homes The new buildings will range in height between 3 and 11 storeys and are expected to include 426 units of affordable housing including 135 will be for social rent.  The homes will be between one- to five-bed properties.  In a statement the housing trust said it was “really pleased” the planning committee had given permission to transform the existing estate which was built between the 1950s and 1970s.   “The transformation involves the complete rebuilding of this part of the estate to provide modern providing a once in a generation opportunity to deal with overcrowding on the estate,” it said.    About 350 buildings that the council said were “poor quality” will be knocked down.  Mount Anvil expects to start on the site in March next year and finish by 2033.  The development also includes retail space a community centre and nursery.    Battersea Development Company says new phase will have a “more modern aesthetic” Scheme branded as making a “total mockery” of council’s tall buildings policies New report by London housing association group is latest attempt to tackle section 106 slowdown Deal goes through two years after Berkley named preferred bidder on £2bn scheme  DESNZ will boost green skills under its Warm Homes Plan through financial awards  Developer also wins grant funding from London mayor  a nursery near Caledonian Road managed by Islington Council has been given the highest-possible rating by Ofsted published on Tuesday 29 March after an inspection on Wednesday 23 February described the centre as an “exceptional nursery” where “children thrive” “teaching is superb” and staff “continually strive for the best outcomes” The inspector noted that children at the nursery “demonstrate high levels of concentration It was also highlighted that older children are supported to “develop strong foundations in subjects such as mathematics and literacy” Children’s welfare was found to be a high priority for the staff who were described as “vigilant to risks” and as having “an excellent understanding of their safeguarding roles” Executive Head of Bemerton Children’s Centre said: “We are really proud of what we have achieved as a team and will do our utmost to continue to provide the best outcomes for children.” Islington Council’s Director of Children’s Services said: “Islington Council is committed to giving children and young people the best possible start in life Providing high quality education in safe and secure environments is essential to achieving that goal “This outstanding report is down to the strong leadership of the centre’s senior managers and the dedication of the staff nurturing environments where children can thrive I want to thank them for their commitment to delivering high quality services.” Bemerton Children’s Centre was assessed to have an outstanding level of effectiveness in all areas: Four of these establishments are currently rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted – Willow The other five were rated as “good” after their most recent inspections: Packington (Popham Road)