An artist’s impression of the proposed scheme in Archway. Image: Islington Council

• ISLINGTON Council’s executive member for housing and development, Cllr Diarmaid Ward has written in response to my letter about the proposed development in Vorley Road, Archway N19, to tell me that the only way to build council houses is to fund them by building properties for sale alongside (email to me).

My suggestion was that Islington could build just council houses. Islington owns the Vorley Road land. Cllr Ward claims there is no decline in demand for private homes in the borough.

According to the Land Registry, however, of the 42 flats which Islington built and has been trying to sell in King Square in Clerkenwell since last June, only eight have found buyers. That is hardly reassuring.

Across the borough he has ambitious plans to act as a developer with at least 20 schemes announced. Unfortunately the proposed new properties are mainly one-and two-bedroom flats, and the shift to working from home means that these are not what people want to buy.

The properties that are selling are the ones with more space, indoors and out, which explains why family homes and outer London are where the limited sales are found.

The monthly round-up by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows that:

– Regional average sales per surveyor over the past three months are lowest of all in London.

– Regional average sales to stock ratio is lowest of all in London.

– On lettings, regional tenant demand is worst first in Scotland and second in London, both markedly down over the past three months.

If flats are not selling in desirable Clerkenwell, why would they sell in Archway? What is Islington Council going to do with unsold flats throughout Islington?

ANITA FRIZZARIN
Wedmore Gardens, N19