Susanna Wilkey RESIDENTS have slammed plans for a 22-flat block in Primrose Hill which they say will spoil beautiful views of the park and destroy London s skyline. Developers have applied to demolish the empty 10-flat Barrow Hill building in St Edmunds T

Susanna Wilkey

RESIDENTS have slammed plans for a 22-flat block in Primrose Hill which they say will spoil beautiful views of the park and destroy London's skyline.

Developers have applied to demolish the empty 10-flat Barrow Hill building in St Edmunds Terrace, to replace it with a much bigger luxury block with underground car parking, cycle parking and fitness and leisure facilities.

Neighbours and park users are furious, saying the building will ruin the character of the area and blot the cherished skyline.

Chairman of the Friends of Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Malcolm Kafetz, said: "We do not think much of this application and we are not very impressed. It is a very ugly block on top of a very beautiful hill which is totally unacceptable.

"It completely ruins the character of Primrose Hill and will look horrible. It is far too big and we are opposing it, as are Royal Parks, because it ruins Primrose Hill and its views."

Hilary Bach, from the Elsworthy Road residents' association, said: "Our first reaction was that the block is too big and that it will overhang Primrose Hill and will change the whole view from all sides.

"From the point of view of people who live around here, it is a very emotive site and there will be a lot of opposition to the size of the block."

Residents are also frustrated they haven't seen the full detailed plans, which have yet to be released by Camden Council.

The social housing, which is required with each new development in the borough, will not be on this site but is proposed for a different location in Camden Town in a block so high it needs approval from the London mayor Boris Johnson.

Jonny Bucknell, secretary of the Primrose Hill business association, said: "I am totally against anything that blocks the view.

"We should cherish our views and I oppose tall buildings across London particularly ones which ruin the view of a lovely park.

"This will ruin Primrose Hill and we need to fight to protect our views which are so beautiful."

Comments on the application can be made to Camden Council until February 19 either by post or online. The council's development control committee will recommend to the Greater London Authority whether or not the application should be approved but the GLA will make the final decision.

Swiss Cottage councillor Andrew Marshall said: "The development is facing directly onto Primrose Hill and people are very concerned about it.

"The people who are worried are not only the ones who live immediately in the area but also those who live on the other side of Primrose Hill who believe this is going to be too high and inappropriate.

"These blocks used to accommodate social housing which is now being moved to a separate block in Camden Town, which is also a concern."

A spokesman for the Royal Parks said: "We received the application this week and will be looking into it.