London has a very long history of activism because it is the seat of Government and a major business hub. There have been significant campaigns and protests for centuries. One of the most interesting was a battle to save Tolmers Square near Euston. Incredibly, over half a century later, a similar story has come around. We want to have a closer look here, then you can trust us if you need to arrange block management in Camden.
History
At one point Tolmers Square was home to a series of Victorian homes with a bit of green space. However, a property developer began purchasing the homes in the 50s with an eye on redeveloping the site to create offices and retail space. This began decades of campaigns to prevent the development.
Activists were pivotal in preventing exploitation of the site. They began campaigning to spread information about the plans, eventually setting up the Tolmers Village Association. The story became a massive headline when squatters began living in the homes, many of which had been left to deteriorate by the developer as an excuse for demolishing them. At the height of the campaign, 180 people were living in 50 homes. Some were there for six years.
The campaign was a surprising success. Ultimately the developer sold to Camden Council, allowing them to do the development. While it did mean the loss of the green space, there were benefits. Crucially, the Council’s project had more homes, fewer offices, and retained Georgian terraces. Many locals businesses were also able to continue trading. Talk to us about block management in Camden.
Today
Tolmers Square is in the news again because Camden Council is proposing to redevelop the estate, Tolmers Village. Like so many councils, they are facing huge pressures to deliver more housing. As a result, eyes are on redeveloping council estates.
Residents have massive concerns about the plans for the redevelopment. A lot of the criticism surrounds the Euston Area Plan (EAP), a document that has changed several times over the years, largely because of the HS2 project. There was a recent update in December to explore redeveloping a large office block at one end of the estate. The worry is this will have a huge impact on residents and local businesses, harming a close-knit community.
The loudest voices are arguing that the area needs more homes rather than offices or hotels. There is also a big worry that locals have not even been properly consulted. Plus, locals fear the impact of redevelopment, particularly when they have already had over a decade of noise and disruption because of HS2.
Speak to us about block management in Camden
It will be really interesting to see how the story plays out for Tolmers Village. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on to see if there is a formal site allocation for redevelopment. That could then lead to plans coming forward.
If you’re thinking about property investments, it’s a very good idea to consider the areas. We can help, providing insights into locations all over London. In addition, we can offer a full range of exceptional services, including guaranteed rent, block management in Camden, and more.
So, talk to us today and let’s get the most from your assets.
