Islington Tribune - News: Apartheid

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 12 October 2007

Andy Murphy

‘Apartheid’ that divides rich and poor under fire

Call for social housing to be spread through development

WHEN new blocks of housing are built, it is normally the working- class who end up with a raw deal, stuck in the corner of an estate, near the bin rooms and well away from the private buyers.
But developers of the latest complex of homes proposed for Finsbury have been told enough is enough – and they must end the “apartheid” by allowing the affluent and not so affluent to live as next-door neighbours.
Andy Murphy, chief executive of regeneration body EC1 New Deal, who rarely comments in public, spoke out at a planning committee on Monday night considering proposals for 274 new flats – including a 10-storey tower block – in Central Street and Seward Street.
The plans from developer Central Street Partnerships show the affordable homes will be clustered at one end of the development, away from the private homes.
Mr Murphy said: “Social housing should be spread throughout the development and not in a kind of apartheid – one bit for the poor and one bit for the rich.”
A decision on the plans was postponed following objections from Labour councillors Jyoti Vaja and Martin Klute, who are holding out for the percentage of cheap homes on the site to be raised from 42 to 50.
The councillors called for a “pepperpot” approach to the siting of affordable flats. They should be scattered among the private homes.
Mr Murphy said: “Residents of social rented housing have only a one-in-10 chance that both their neighbours will be working. That has a huge impact. Children grow up and see around them people who are not working. There’s an opportunity in this scheme for people to raise their children in a very different environment.”
He said later: “I grew up in a working-class area of south east London but that was at a time when working class meant everyone worked. Now there are lots of working-class people who don’t work. It’s bad enough being poor. It’s twice as bad if all your neighbours are poor.”
Cllr Vaja said: “We haven’t got a policy of pepperpotting but maybe we need to look at that. It’s supposed to be an area of regeneration but I don’t see how this development contributes to that.”
Edward Ledwidge, from Central Street Partnerships, said: “We’ve never sought to play the numbers game in terms of the accommodation. We’ve always sought to provide the council with what they want. When we look at the three- and four-bed units, they are actually some of the best-made units on the scheme. You could argue that the penthouses are better.
“The people that take care of the affordable housing have to make sure they are affordable in terms of maintenance. That’s why we’ve got them blocked together in one. We’re not just talking about the affordability element as a benefit, we’re talking about a £1.5 million cash contribution which will benefit the immediate area.”
Neighbours who attended the meeting objected to the proximity of the scheme, the increase in traffic, the loss of daylight and the possibility of being overlooked.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments:

Please note Councillor Jyota Vaja is Lib Dem and NOT Labour.
Adrian Croft