CAMDEN COUNCIL PLANNING DECISION ON STABLES MARKET

10/10/06

Camden Council has approved a planning application for a redevelopment of part of The Stables Market in Camden Town (NW1).

The decision was made at the council’s Development Control Committee meeting on Thursday evening (5 October 2006). The redevelopment consists of two new four-storey buildings that will house shops, food outlets, offices, workshops and storage facilities as well as an exhibition space. The heritage of the site was considered, with the nine ‘coal drop’ arches retained and brought into use, the existing temporary stalls demolished and a new pedestrian route through the rear of the site exposing 25 of the existing railway arches.

Pedestrian walkways - in the style of the existing historic ramp and bridge system - will open up the site and make it much more accessible than the previous scheme. A glass roof and cycle parking spaces will be added, and contributions to off-site housing and street improvements made.

In making its decision, the committee considered and discussed a wide range issues including:

· the council’s planning policies and the planning permission previously granted for the site in 2003, which allowed a mixed-use development of new buildings and demolition of the arches

· public objections to the application from Camden and London residents and groups, as well as deputations supporting and opposing it, which were given in person at the meeting

· the impact of the development on local conservation, community safety, nearby residents, transport and sustainability.

The council agreed restrictions to the size and design of the shop units so that they are more likely to suit and encourage market and independent traders than high street retailers. The design of the scheme and the materials used were also carefully considered by the committee to ensure that the re-development complements the industrial nature of the site’s existing Victorian buildings.

Cllr Dawn Somper, Chair of the Development Control Committee, Camden Council said:

“We absolutely support the desire to preserve the independent and alternative attraction and feel of Stables Market - rather than it looking like a typical high street - and also its economic importance to the Camden Town area. On balance the committee felt that the design, size and heritage considerations of this application were a significant improvement on the previous consented planning permission.”

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