Anger over King's Cross Redevelopment

By Rosie Stewart

LOCAL campaigners will attempt to stall the King’s Cross redevelopment this week, by urging Camden Council to reconsider granting planning permission to UK developer Argent.

Members of the King’s Cross Think Again campaign will address Camden’s Development Control Committee on Thursday, 16 November to ask them to reconsider the controversial Section 106 agreement – the legal document outlining the obligations of the developer, council, landowners and other parties.

The agreement, made in March of this year, has met with serious criticism. Mark Edwards, co-chair of the King’s Cross Railway Lands Group, said: “Our group, with other local groups in Camden and Islington, has campaigned for regeneration of the site for nearly 20 years.

"But the decision that was pushed through Camden in March has serious flaws. Councillors need to reconsider the whole application. "

The site borders Camden and Islington, and campaigners will argue that the amount of affordable housing proposed will not meet legal standards and that conservation and heritage sights are under threat of demolition.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the current scheme's commitment to European requirements on air quality.

Diana Shelly, spokesperson for the Cally Rail Goup, expressed her concern that any benefits from the scheme will by-pass Islington entirely.

“We don’t even have access to any of the proposed facilities," she said.

"Camden are getting new state-of-the-art leisure facilities, and despite the impact the development will have on us we get nothing. Meanwhile the Cally Pool is badly in need of refurbishment.

"It may seem trivial, but it is indicative of the wider problem. Camden are bullies.”

Labour councillor for Caledonian Paul Convery said: “I’m very disappointed by the 106 agreements. It strikes me as a bad way to design a big development.

"As it stands, the impact will be in Islington, but the benefits will go to Camden.”

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