Labour councillor Nasrine Djemai

A 30-STOREY skyscraper and 401 new homes are being planned for an industrial estate in Camley Street.

A planning application by the Town Hall and developers Ballymore has been lodged to radically redevelop the Agar Grove plot – and plans include a tower, which would become the highest building in King’s Cross.

Work would include a new public square, a play space, and new pedestrian and cycle routes through Agar Grove to King’s Cross.

Half of the new homes would be split between social rent levels and housing for key workers, while current buildings onsite will be demolished.

The plans have been split into two. One section, on Camley Street, would see a new “makers” complex created, similar to the businesses in nearby Tile Yard. It would include space for music, film and photography studios, fine artists, fashion, crafts, textiles and design. The second site, on Cedar Way, would be pitched at life science and technology firms and council projections state that around 1,000 new jobs could be created.

Work began in 2020 to draw up designs and the council say tenants could receive keys to their new front doors by 2030. The Town Hall have signed deals with developers Ballymore and life science operator Lateral to build and manage the project.

Camley Street Neighbourhood Forum chairman Alex Smith is meeting with other members next week to formalise a response.

He said: “The Forum drew up its own plan for the area and we want to compare this application with what was envisaged, and is part of the statutory plans for the neighbourhood.

“Our own plan had towers on the site – not as high as those that are proposed, but there is a big need for housing and Camley Street needs to play its part. We want to understand how the plan meets affordable housing requirements in the neighbourhood.”

He added there was concern over the life science element, with work on a planned laboratory in nearby Argyle Square halted after its backers decided there wasn’t a need for the extra space. He said: “There is currently 2.5 million square feet of life science buildings being developed in King’s Cross. We want to know if this is being built on spec for a partner, or if it is speculative? Has the area reached a saturation point for life sciences? Unless it has tenants identified, we fear it could become a white elephant.”

Camden’s housing chief, Labour councillor Nasrine Djemai, said: “These plans present a significant opportunity to provide hundreds of new affordable, family-sized, energy-efficient homes.”

She added demand for life science centres meant creating job opportunities.

She said: “This includes placements for schoolchildren and creating apprenticeships and training, so that residents growing up in the borough have clear and varied pathway into these jobs. The scheme delivers on many of the asks of the Neighbourhood Forum, including ensuring there is more affordable housing and a variety of businesses.”