Local Lib Dems back plans for new homes in our area
Posted by leebakerlibdem on February 1, 2010
Local Lib Dems have welcomed plans for much-needed new homes in King’s Cross. But we pushed for more family-sized houses to be built here.
St George's Gardens, and our neighbourhood, must be protected
Camden council has set out a new plan on how it wants King’s Cross to develop in future. This includes a demand that developers provide many new homes on our few sites available for development – and not just yet more lucrative offices.
Local campaigners told Camden council planners to hold their nerve on these demands. There is a shortage of housing here. Many people starting their family are forced to move away. We wrote to the planning department: “We hope you spell out to developers that the greatest needs are for affordable homes with two, three and four bedrooms.”
Local Lib Dems welcomed a pledge by planners to demand housing for local people on Sidmouth Street – if an appeal by a developer for a large new student block is thrown out. Planners have also stated that St George’s Gardens, and our neighbourhood, must be protected.
On the site of the rundown 70s Camden Council annex on Arygle Street, planners will demand that at least half of any new building will be for housing. Council planners will also seek the maximum possible amount of new housing in the Euston station redevelopment. This follows an agreement to build 284 new affordable homes on the railway land behind King’s Cross.
We welcome these commitments to build new homes for our area, and will hold the planners to them.
