Go-ahead for controversial 29-Storey tower block on City Basin

Published: 5 March 2010
by PETER GRUNER

A CONTROVERSIAL 29-storey tower block – the first of two – overlooking City Road Basin and the new £2million Piazza was finally given the full go-ahead by Islington Council on Tuesday night.

The block, which environmentalists claim is out of keeping with the low-level 19th-century industrial architecture of Regent’s Canal and will cast a shadow across the Basin, was approved by the South Area Planning Committee.

The block will provide 304 homes, with almost half in the affordable category. Building had been held up after Labour members of the committee demanded it included more affordable homes. A 36-storey tower block, due to be built nearby, has still not been given final approval although that is expected soon.

Del Brenner, a member of the London Waterways Commission and a major critic of the scheme, said he was very disappointed that the development has won approval.

“I’m obviously not against new homes,” he said, “but why ruin a place of interest where people walk or row boats with a giant building like this?”

Islington planners said that they sent out almost 2,000 letters as part of a local public consultation but received just two responses regarding concerns about possible loss of sunlight due to the height of the building. The planners argued that this would be minimal.