• EXECUTIVE member and Islington Council deputy leader Diarmaid Ward emphasises that “Islington is facing a housing crisis; doing nothing is not an option” in relation to the council’s proposals for the Finsbury Leisure Centre site, (We must make best use of the space, January 19).

But if doing something results in the loss to existing housing of amenities such as light, space, greenery, and access to sporting facilities that are vital to it, then that is surely counter-productive; especially if, as in this case, the loss will be widespread but the gain is just 100 affordable units to set against the much-quoted 15,000 demand.

Islington housing needs do not necessarily need to be met in Islington. People in London move freely from borough to borough. Islington vies with Tower Hamlets as the densest borough and it has four times the density and one-fifth of the area of Enfield, for example.

There is no question but that much more housing could be provided in Enfield and other lower-density boroughs without loss of those amenities to existing housing than in Islington.

The former Greater London Council, abolished by Margaret Thatcher, operated throughout the present Greater London area, including building housing.

It should surely be the objective of any incoming Labour government to return that ability to the GLA.

JAMES DUNNETT
James Dunnett Architects
Barnsbury Road, N1