Not just hot air! £30m Naish Court project finished
Published: 16 August, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB
AFRICAN dancing, music and good food marked the end of a £30million regeneration programme at Naish Court, off Caledonian Road.
As Islington Council leader Catherine West opened the new community centre in Copenhagen Street, developers heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that this was the end of the nine-year project.
Pensioners, residents and youngsters joined the celebrations last Monday, enjoying outdoor performances in Wellington Square.
Later in the afternoon Mayor of Islington councillor Mouna Hamitouche released 250 balloons into the sky from outside the community centre. Every child who attended was entered free into the balloon race, with a £25 HMV voucher for the child whose balloon is found the furthest away by Monday August 16.
Guinness Trust held the event to mark the completion of its project which began in 2001 when tenants of 212 rented and leasehold flats voted to transfer to the trust.
The trust then embarked on a phased demolition of the old 1950s flats with developers Willmott Dixon. Now, 400 new homes have now been built in their place, 236 of which are affordable housing for rent or shared ownership.
There is also a new children’s library, community centre, play area in Wellington Square and estate office and shop spaces.