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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 30 January 2009

Arsenal flats get green light from planning chiefs

‘No demand’ for community building

ARSENAL Football Club has won permission to turn a community building into a block of flats after a planning inspector overruled Islington Council last week.
The club went head-to-head with Islington council before the planning inspectorate last month where Arsenal appealed against the council’s refusal to allow them to change the use of a building in Carronade Court, Eden Grove, from community to residential.
It had originally been set aside as a health centre as part of a package of concessions offered to the council in return for permission for a much larger housing development but was rejected by Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT) in favour of a different building. Islington Council argued there has been a reduction in the use of community space as a result of the Arsenal regeneration development and that the marketing to attract community groups to use the building was “limited at best”.
Arsenal said there was little interest from community groups and the PCT didn’t want the building, so it should be turned into flats.
Planning Inspector David Hogger, who published his decision last Wednesday, said: “Although the permitted use is for a community health facility, there was much discussion about alternative community use.
“The council suggested a number of potential uses, including a museum, a public library, a place of public worship or for the provision of education. However, in my opinion it has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that such a demand exists.”
Roger Hepher, representing Stadium Investments Ltd, said: “At a time of acknowledged housing need it makes sense to use the Carronade Court space for new homes rather than leave it vacant. It is just a pity that it has taken so long to get permission for these nine flats.”
A Town Hall spokeswoman said: “While the council had hoped to retain the community space and defended our position accordingly, we are glad to see an empty space on this regeneration site being brought into active use.”

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