Residents are concerned the “special character” of the Crouch End conservation area could be lost if proposals to demolish Victorian villas are given the go-ahead
Plans have been lodged with Haringey Council to tear down a historic pair of villas and replace them with a four-storey building with underground car parking.
Shepherd’s Hill resident Richard Downes started a petition on change.org which has more than 160 signatures against the new-build development.
He hopes to maintain the character of the street, which falls between Highgate and Crouch End, close to the Hornsey Cricket Club.
In an emotional blogpost, Mr Downes described how he met his wife when he moved from Colchester and settled down with her in her Shepherd’s Hill home.
He said: “It pleases me that I live in a lovely road in a conservation area that was designed to protect Victorian villas from demolition [...] I stand to lose my historical connection with the place. I stand to lose my sense of community.”
Developers KTN Highgate Limited hope to demolish the building at 70-72 Shepherd’s Hill and construct 16 new homes.
In the planning documents, agents claim the application was put forward by the villa residents, who had been seeking a development partner for the project.
H Planning agent Matt Humphreys wrote: “Residents do not consider that their current properties adequately meet their needs for some elderly residents as well as families with young children, as there is no lift.”
Architects Fourfoursixsix plan to use red brick in keeping with the surrounding conservation area.
H Planning agents did not comment before the Broadway went to press.
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