Guillermo Arroyave

TENANTS and leaseholders have been left in limbo after a major transformation of their estate by a housing association was “paused”.

Uncertainty now wraps the plan to demolish the New Barnsbury estate, part of the larger Barnsbury estate that sits between King’s Cross and Angel, and replace it with 914 homes.

The halt follows a government announcement that all buildings over 18 metres tall will now require two staircases as a fire safety precaution.

Guillermo Arroyave, who lives in Mavor House in the New Barnsbury estate, said: “I’m a leaseholder, if I have to sell this property back to [housing association] Newlon, I would like to know what’s going on. I’d like to know when exactly my building is going to be demolished so I can plan the very few years I have left. I’m 74 already, so should I wait and see what’s going to happen? Should I wait for this building to be demolished?”

Now-empty Blackmore House, which was set to be demolished

Charlene Smith is a Newlon Housing tenant in Crispe House who says the delay has left her with a flat that isn’t up to standard. “I’ve got moisture issues, and mould, and we’ve had a lot of drainage problems,” she said.

“There’s high humidity, so there’s damp that you’re not always seeing but you can smell it, it’s musty. So, to know that my block is scheduled near the end of the [demolition] phase anyway, and they haven’t even started – what does that mean for me?

“I’m just fed up with it, I’m hoping for a miracle now so they just get on with it.”

Wissem Kabouch lives in Mavor House with his family who are “disappointed” by the delay.

Mavor House

“It’s hard to find somewhere else to live, for me and my family. We waited for seven years on the waiting list to get this flat, so now the only choice I have is to wait for them [the developers],” he said.

Labour councillor Martin Klute, who chairs the planning committee, said: “Ultimately, this is about fire safety, but you can see how damaging this is for all future building projects if the government intends to apply this retrospectively and not allow the usual grace period.”

When announcing that this new regulation would be coming, housing secretary Michael Gove said: “This is a considered and gradual evolution of safety standards, which, when taken with our other fire safety measures and reforms, ensures the safety of people in all tall buildings – both new and existing.”

Wissem Kabouch: ‘The only choice I have is to wait’

A spokesperson from Newlon Housing Trust said: “We have reluctantly decided to temporarily pause the first phase of demolition works on the Barnsbury Estate due to some anticipated new building safety requirements from the government.

“These are expected to be announced in the autumn, although we do not have an exact date. This pause will allow us to fully assess the design of all homes in accordance with these new requirements, when we receive them. We have already written to all residents to explain this difficult decision.

“There are no plans not to continue with the Barnsbury estate transformation and we will be further updating residents once we’ve completed our review following the publication of the expected new requirements.”

In a letter sent out to residents on Monday, Newlon Housing said they understood the pause would be “disappointing, but we need to ensure we build homes that meet the relevant regulations”.