Plan to build flat in lobby of Manor Gardens' Beaux Arts Building ‘greedy’

Published: 25th March, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

RESIDENTS, including lifestyle guru Carole Caplin, have launched a new battle against plans to build inside the ornate lobby area of a block of flats in Holloway created in the style of New York’s Grand Central station.

Ms Caplin, the former health adviser to Cherie Blair, described scaled-down plans to develop the 100-year-old eight-storey Beaux Arts Building in Manor Gardens as “smaller than the original but still greedy”.

Along with another resident, theatre director Max Stafford Clark, Ms Caplin is supporting an action committee to stop the plan to “squeeze” an extra two-bedroom warehouse-style flat and new offices inside the large lobby area.

The original scheme submitted last year, which wanted to build three flats inside the lobby, was thrown out at a planning appeal.

Now the freeholder for the former Royal Mail building is back with a new proposal. This time, he wants to build a single flat. The flat would replace a mail room and reception area, which would be moved within the lobby and corridors.

Ms Caplin has a top-floor penthouse apartment that she purchased 14 years ago for £240,000. “This is such a wonderful building and has so much history,” Ms Caplin said.

“To want to build inside a grand lobby is just plain greed.”

She believes Beaux Arts is one of Islington’s grandest buildings, and added: “It should be protected both internally and externally. The foyer retains many of the original features of the building, including the original plasterwork, stained glass medallions and mahogany entrance.”

Mr Stafford-Clarke, 71, said: “This is corporate greed. They’ve already been refused one scheme and they want to try again. It’s totally out of keeping with the building. Our ornate foyer is the crowning glory of these flats and would be ruined by these plans.”

The residents have the support of local Labour Cllr Phil Kelly, who described the scheme as an “unnecessary overdevelopment”.

Another resident, retired journalist Mary Campbell, a member of a committee opposing the plans, said the lobby is an important heritage asset. 

“Residents have to get all their objections in by April 7,” she said. “My understanding is that a lot of people are against the scheme. Hundreds opposed it last time.”

A spokesman for developer Bloomfold said: “In addition to the works associated with the application, we intend to refurbish the entrance foyer in a sympathetic way that will respect the history and splendour of the existing interior.”