Battle lines drawn as Northview neighbours plan defence of their ‘oasis’ flats

Published: 11 February, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

Fury at fresh bid to build extra storey at 1930s block with a sense of community

NEIGHBOURS in a distinctive block of 1930s flats in Holloway launched a new battle this week against an “overbearing “ development which they claim will ruin their community.

Developers want to build an extra storey with nine more flats at three-storey Northview House in Tufnell Park Road. It will be the third attempt to build an extra storey – the previous two proposals were withdrawn at the last moment.

Neighbours argue that the development will reduce light and overlook many of the flats. 

Resident Ben Porter said that Northview has survived because it works as a community. “It is an asset to a much-maligned area and should be protected from cynical overdevelopment,” he said.

 “A peaceful and distinctive community of flats will be architecturally mugged if this proposal goes ahead. This design will only suffocate the clean architecture squashed underneath.

“The proposed storey would mar that rare thing on this stretch of the Holloway Road – an intact example of a period architecture that creates a sense of community and offers a peaceful environment – an oasis if you like, from the bustle and noise of what is already a densely populated area.”

 Another resident, David Kinnin, thought the proposed extra floor would look ugly. “A glass balcony does not fit in with the mild and sedate 1930s architecture,” he said. 

“This design will create a barrel effect and make the whole of Northview feel very claustrophobic.

“We will lose the only sunlight we get. There will be a massive loss of privacy, and noise pollution.”

Neighbour Sarwar Osman said: “The facilities cannot cope with an increase in residents. The cycle store is woefully inadequate. Security is perceived as an issue of little or no concern.”

The developer is the family-firm Walduck who own London's Imperial hotel chain.