New Woodberry Down Development Forges ahead

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Permalink Reply by Yan White on December 20, 2010 at 14:16

Does anyone have any news about this?

It's high time Manor House benefited from some regeneration.

I just discovered this link: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/manor-house-aap.htm

 

"poor street environment" - I have to agree!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Yan White on January 3, 2011 at 16:04

I got curious about what's going on up there so took a walk along Seven Sisters Road to find out..

You can see a few cranes already from Green Lanes and the first stages of building are well under way down Woodberry Grove.

 

I found the development enquiries office is open and had a chat with the guy working there.

They have a scale model which shows clearly the entire development and it really is a complete replacement of Woodberry Down Estate.

 

Here's what I found out:

 

The full development should take 10-15 years to complete

Council/Private split is around 60/40

All existing residents are being rehoused in 'higher spec' flats on a rotation basis (as soon as one new block is completed people move and the old block is demolished)

Only 3 bed flats and above will be allocated parking

Berkeley Group who is undertaking the project apparently has plenty of money in the bank to finish the project (their share price is 890, a lot higher than their main competitors)

The scheme is described as a deliberate effort at 'gentrification'

'The Residence' will be a single 27-storey tower at the heart of the development with an on-site gym and small shopping area on the ground floor, This will be surrounded by the smaller buildings that will replace the existing flats.

 

So, from what I've been told at least this is going ahead and will be completed.

 

It makes me wonder what the long-term effect will be on the area as a whole, given that this is one of the biggest building projects in the country.

It could well put a dent in the (slightly crooked) monoculture of businesses that exist on Green Lanes between Manor House and Turnpike Lane, which in my view wouldnt be a bad thing!

Of course who wants more Starbucks etc but a little variety might be healthy and start to represent the demographic a little more fairly.

 

I wonder if change might start to happen sooner?

You can already find these apartments for sale on rightmove etc

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Permalink Reply by Abi on August 30, 2011 at 13:52

Are there some pics online from the top of the tower (Hugh?)

Am trying to find it for a friend who is interested in these flats, but it's not coming up in any of my searches!

Also, what's the latest - is there a completion date in sight?

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on August 30, 2011 at 14:28

This was the best I could manage through dirty windows. The developer's brochure has better.

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Permalink Reply by Abi on August 30, 2011 at 15:09

Cool , thank you

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Permalink Reply by Paulie on September 9, 2011 at 13:22

Back of the Sunday Times Homes section had the view south over the City.

 

I can't believe they make all this fuss about the Shard and then allow this hideous eyesore to blight our views of our area at every turn... Genuinely amazed no-one has complained about this development on here.

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on September 9, 2011 at 13:31

I agree Paulie and also think it is a shame that (some) of the old Woodberry Down estate blocks have been demolished..

 

The older blocks are part of the social history of the area and with some thought, care and plenty of money could easily have been thoroughly renovated and provided  some decent lower-cost housing for 'established' local families.. and not  blight the area with dreadful speculative gentrification models for 'outsiders' - which genrally only löök attractive in the short term.. i.e. the slums of tomorrow..

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