Ambitious plans for Barnsbury Estate given go ahead

• The project will deliver 914 homes, two new parks, new streets including pedestrianised mews streets, and a new community centre.
• 426 social housing homes including 135 new homes for social rent as well as 291 replacement homes for current estate residents.
• Over 16,000 sqm of high-quality open spaces including 202 trees will improve landscaping and create new spaces for all ages to enjoy.
• Residents voted in favour of redevelopment in an Estate Ballot in March 2021 – 73% voted yes with a turnout of 79%, the first estate ballot in Islington.

Newlon and Mount Anvil are today announcing that the proposals for the redevelopment of New Barnsbury have been approved by Islington Council. The project will deliver 914 homes in a beautiful new landscape-led estate.

The project represents a once in a generation opportunity to improve housing conditions, create modern, highly efficient homes, solve overcrowding, and build much needed new homes for social rent in Islington. Construction works are targeted to start in March 2023.

All Newlon residents will get a new home reprovided as part of the scheme with 46 overcrowded households all getting a new, larger, and more energy-efficient home of the correct size for their family.

Newlon and Mount Anvil have been working closely with residents for three years; hosting workshops, drop-ins, summer fun days and site tours to other developments. Residents overwhelmingly voted in favour of the project in an Estate Ballot in March 2021 with 73% yes vote on a turnout of 79%.

The scheme has been designed in collaboration with residents, ensuring their homes and their estate reflects their needs and requests. This includes providing play space designed in collaboration with Basketball team London Lions and working with the London Wildlife Trust to make improvements to the green space on site.

A new community centre, double the size of the existing building, will be provided looking out onto the new Carnegie Street park which will feature play space designed in collaboration with Basketball team London Lions. The other new park, Pultney Street park features biodiverse planting and greening improvements created with the London Wildlife Trust. The shops on Caledonian Road will be retained in the redeveloped blocks with modern, flexible commercial space, protecting an important community use for residents and the wider area.

Mike Hinch, CEO of Newlon Housing Trust said:

“We are really proud that our plans for the transformation of the Barnsbury Estate have been approved. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our residents, the wider local community and our partners Mount Anvil to create a truly great and sustainable place to live.”

Killian Hurley, CEO of Mount Anvil said:

“We’re truly delighted to be delivering more quality, affordable homes with our partners, Newlon, supported by Islington Council and our funders at the GLA. We’ve been working hard: listening, learning and co-designing with Barnsbury residents a cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable community which everyone can be proud of. We’re excited to be getting onto site delivering for the local community in early 2023."