Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Twenty two story block to be built on Apex House at Seven Sisters

There are plans to build an unsightly 22 story block at Seven Sisters. Apex house has been sold to our most favoured developer, Grainger, for the princely sum of 3.5 million. Though the building has no architectural merit the site is of prime importance, and probably worth nearer 9 million.
It will cost 5 million to transfer the council services currently in Apex house and we will lose a large amount of Marcus Garvey library to do this.
Grainger recently contributed to the councils trip to Cannes property junket.
The architect commissioned to design this project is McAslan, has been given offices in Tottenham by the council.
So this does seem to me that a lot of this is to be funded by us, the tax payer. But we will not see any of the profit. That will go to Grainger and McAslan.
At a presentation presumably to ask our views we were told by MacAslan that we need a focal point to look at when we walk to the already congested tube every day.
This may well be the case, but it is questionable as to whether it is their 22 stories that we need to see. I suspect it is more a case of the profits for McAslan and Grainger that we will not be seeing that is more the point.
We, the residents, will just be left in the shade from this huge edifice overshadowing all our houses and gardens.
Finally, there is as usual, no social housing anywhere in this plan.
If you wish to object to this development, then do go to the planning forum meeting at Conel in Tottenham High Rd on Wed 27th May at 7pm to give them your views.

I

Views: 547

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

At the Marcus Garvey Library consultation meeting I asked Cllr Jason Arthur if there was an "overage" clause in the contract with Grainger.  This would ensure that excess profits would be shared with the Council.  It presumes that the price of £3.5 million is - as you say well below market value; And also that Grainger stand to make further profit from general uplift of property values. Exactly how much profit they make would depend on the agreed planning application. and how many flats are built on th site.

Cllr Arthur the "cabinet" councillor for finance promised to get back to me with the answer. He has not done so.

As you know, Candy, one problem with the disease of Secret Haringey is that it takes a lot of work to winkle out even such basic information. However, let's take inspiration from Rev Paul Nicolson who proves this can be done.

It seems to me that having waited a reasonable time for an answer it would now be irresponsible of me not to take action. Possibly with a Freedom of Information request. Or perhaps an approach to Grant Thornton the Council's external auditors. Or maybe someone has one or more alternative suggestions?

However, you and fellow members of the Words Corner Coalition may already have begun taking such steps. Or if not, you may wish to add your names to an agreed form of F.o.I or letter to Grant Thornton.

That's right, FPR. But at least Jack got his five magic beans and some golden eggs.

Right now it's questionable whether or not Haringey's deal with developers for a potentially lucrative piece of land near a tube station will end with the Borough making a net loss; after deducting the costs of moving the staff - including adaptations and cutting library Space at Marcus Garvey Library.

If the developers go on to make additional profits on their tower - Candy suggests a value more than double the purchase price - then this Council will have totally and spectacularly failed in its stewardship of a publicly owned asset.

If that degree of incompetence seems highly unlikely, then this Council has form in entering into loss-making property deals.  Ally Pally and Lee Valley Technopark are examples I know about.

Do you mind publishing the link to the planning application on the council website so i can object to it?

There is no planning application, yet.  These are all pre-planning 'consultations' that will inform the final design. There is a copy of the slideshow shown to the Development Planning Forum, here.

If they took the feedback at that forum seriously, those plans will now be torn up and they will start again with something that does become an elegant, slender Landmark. Note that the drawings do not show the east face along the High Road, which will just look like a giant slab of hugeness. FagPacketTowers is what we're being offered. And most of the drawings are again from a wide-angle perspective that reduces the apparent mass and height. Brief report of the Forum here.

It's VERY VERY concerning! Thank you for the further info

RSS

Advertising

© 2024   Created by Hugh.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service