Mayor Intervenes in Contentious Archway Redevelopment
The Mayor of London has reignited a fierce planning battle by deciding to review controversial proposals for the former Archway Hospital site, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from local campaigners who describe the scheme as creating the "slums of the future".
Contested Plans for Victorian Hospital Site
Property investment firm SevenCapital, which purchased the Victorian-era Archway Hospital site in 2021, put forward plans to regenerate the empty buildings. Their proposal included creating 178 new homes alongside 242 student rooms, featuring a dominant 27-storey tower dedicated to student accommodation.
However, the scheme faced substantial local opposition, receiving hundreds of objections from the community. Concerns centred on the developer's ability to deliver on affordable housing targets and uncertainty about which university the student accommodation would serve.
In March of this year, Islington Council formally rejected the application. The council's decision cited multiple policy conflicts, including non-compliance with the London Plan, and labelled the proposed tower's height as "excessive".
City Hall's Power Play and Community Backlash
The stalemate was broken when the Greater London Authority (GLA) used its powers to call in the decision, giving City Hall the authority to potentially overturn the local council's rejection.
This intervention has alarmed opposition groups. Kate Calvert, speaking for the campaign group Better Archway Forum, expressed concern that Mayor Sadiq Khan is prepared to "ride roughshod" over the local planning process. She highlighted that the decision might ultimately be made by a "single, unelected" deputy mayor rather than a full planning committee, stating, "This is hardly democratic government."
Campaigners argue the scheme is ill-suited to address the housing crisis, noting that 76% of the proposed units, including those classed as affordable, are studios or one-bedroom flats. They also question the need for more "luxury" student housing amid a reported decline in university student numbers.
Legal Challenge and Historical Site's Future
In response to the Mayor's intervention, the Better Archway Forum has launched a crowdfunding campaign to hire a barrister to represent their case at a potential public hearing scheduled for as early as December.
Ms Calvert revealed that SevenCapital had previously presented a low-rise alternative that enjoyed resident support and still delivered substantial residential and affordable homes. "The Mayor and his team seem completely uninterested in this," she said. "What is happening now is facilitating slums of the future, while the developer banks their millions."
The Archway Hospital, first opened in 1879 as the Holborn Union Infirmary, has stood vacant since 2013. SevenCapital has previously stated its commitment to working with the local authority to "rejuvenate" the site with a residential-led scheme that "celebrates the history of the site whilst transforming it for modern day use".
According to the GLA's standard procedure, the Mayor of London will hold a public hearing before making a final decision, where Islington Council, the applicant, and registered objectors and supporters will have the opportunity to present their views.
