‘Don’t bulldoze Whitecross Street Victorian block’

Published: 10th June, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

FURIOUS residents and market traders hope to block the demolition of a row of early Victorian buildings in one of the most fashionable streets in Britain.

The block in Whitecross Street, Bunhill – voted the third hippest street in Britain in a recent survey – has been derelict for around eight years.

Now, developers have put in a planning application to demolish the block – on the same street as the popular food market and in a conservation area – but crucially have not said what they will replace it with.

David Gibson, an architect who drew up plans to refurbish the block under a previous owner, said there was no reason why the terrace could not be restored.

Speaking as chairman of The Islington Society, he said the row was probably built in the mid-19th century. 

“The buildings have been vacant for a long time,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any need to knock them down at all. They could be refurbished.”

Buildings in conservation areas are rarely allowed to be demolished.

Leo Chapman, secretary of the Peabody Tenants’ Association –  representing residents on the estate in Whitecross Street – said he believed the block could be knocked down within three weeks.

“The application should be dismissed as demolition would bring about a loss of character for the conservation area,” he said. 

Harley Sherlock, of The Islington Society, added that the buildings should not be knocked down unless the case for a new building was overwhelming. 

“But you can’t make a judgement without seeing any plans,” he said. “We should oppose any demolition until we know what the replacement is going to be.”

The planning application to demolish the terrace has been lodged by Ferngrove Construction and Finchley and Norton Mayfield Architects, of Sheffield. Neither was available for comment.