The proposed community arts centre site

A PLAN to open a community arts centre in a derelict former church in Archway is set to be rejected – after six years of negotiations.

The Better Archway Forum put in a planning application to convert the space into a rehearsal hall for dance and theatre groups for anything from Taekwondo to crochet in 2019.

It also included a box office for information about what music, art and theatre will be on in the cafes, pubs and community centres across the neighbourhood.

But according to the project’s architect Adrian Betham, the council’s longstanding support for the scheme has suddenly been “turned on its head”.

“All the way through, Islington have been supportive, telling us precisely what was needed to get the scheme approved,” Mr Betham told the Tribune. “And we’ve addressed everything they said they needed.”

In June planning officers told Mr Betham they intended to refuse the scheme and that he should not submit any further documentation to try and change their minds.

A primary issue they raised is that Better Archway Forum’s proposal does not meet the building’s “site allocation” – a planning term that means the building is designated for a particular type of development – in this case, retail and offices.

But, Mr Betham said: “Meeting the site allocation relies on retail, which is suffering, and offices, which are empty all over London.

“There are other policies that our proposals do meet – maintaining a locally listed building in a conservation area and providing employment.

“And there is a proven demand for it – the local sentiment is that the building needs to be put back into good order.”

The owner of the Archway Methodist Hall, Flowervale Properties Limited, also has a planning application under consideration.

This would demolish the building and replace it with offices, a gym and a medical centre.

Flowervale Properties Ltd described its plans as “an opportunity to deliver a sustainable, resource-efficient, and future-proof mixed-use development”, and an “exciting opportunity to replace a vacant and dilapidated building with one of high architectural quality”.

It remains to be seen whether Islington will accept Flowervale’s proposal – which may also be out of keeping with council planning policy, according to Mr Betham.

“If they are consistent between us, as they’ve told us they have to be, they ought to turn the owner’s application down as well,” he said.

A spokesperson from Islington Council said: “The Local Planning Authority do not comment on ongoing planning assessments. No determination has been made on either application relating to the site and the assessment of both applications will be made against relevant planning policy and all material considerations.”