Islington Council’s vision for the redevelopment of Finsbury Leisure Centre which was released this week

A TWENTY-STOREY tower block and football pitches on the roof remain part of Islington’s proposals for the redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre under newly released plans.

On Wednesday the council posted online their final vision for the Bunhill site in Norman Street, which will see four large – and currently in constant use – football pitches concreted over by a larger leisure centre and a residential block for up to 100 social rent homes.

A further tranche of homes will be sold on the private market to pay for the redevelopment, while a smaller set of pitches will be relocated to the roof.

Council chiefs argue they must press ahead with the redevelopment in order to make a dent in their enormous waiting list for council homes and replace a crumbling 58-year-old leisure centre.

But a grassroots campaign group, EC1 Voices, which has around 300 members, is calling for the scheme to be shrunk in size and for developers to leave their football pitches on the ground.

Eva Guerra said: “We are not insensitive to the urgency that a lot of people are [in need] in the borough, but there are two sides of that for me.

EC1 Voices members Lize Evers and Iana Petkova protest earlier this year

“Building over a leisure and sports infrastructure is trying to solve a very complex problem by putting a plaster over a massive crack. There’s a deep sense of loss on what this site brings us in social value.”

She argued that by not making any major changes to their plans since their last consultation in January, the council has not listened to the group’s concerns, and more worryingly, is “setting a precedent” for building over community-use land in its quest to solve a housing crisis in the capital.

“This is setting a precedent that they can build over absolutely everything without any regard for the community,” she warned.

But ward councillor Phil Graham, who has long supported the scheme, denies there is widespread local objection to it.

Pointing out he has objected to many a planning application in the past due to over development fears, he insisted this one was right for the area in a borough with 15,000 people on the housing waiting list.

“Yes, it will be difficult for some people but I think the greater need is for the homes and for the improved sports centre that’s going to do the area the power of good,” he said. However, he admitted another route would be preferred.

“I would be happier if we were turning offices into homes, but we’re not. We can’t, we’re not allowed,” he said.

In council documents released this week, officers have written: “You said in January the 20-storey building is too tall and [you] are worried about the daylight impact to neighbouring buildings.

“Our response: Our tallest building has been carefully located to minimise the impact on neighbouring properties. Without the taller building it is not possible to deliver the 100 council homes, homes for sale to help pay for them, a brand-new leisure centre and NHS GP surgery.”