Development of John Jones Site
  • therattle
    @Misscara: now that's what I call hot underwear, folks!

    (Sorry, sorry, couldn't resist)
  • David Barry
    Once more stroudgreen.org fearlessly follows the argument where ever it goes; and provides some helpful domestic safety tips on the way.
  • ArkadyArkady

    As noted more angrily elsewhere, the cash-strapped Islington Council are throwing some more money at this by applying for a judicial review.

    If anyone has any media contacts or political pull around here (looks pleadingly at Mark Pack) then maybe they could deploy them...

  • Kate Jones
    Sorry meant @reg (auto spell in overdrive!)

    Incidentally it seems islington filed the papers to another company John Jones instead of us...
  • markpack
    Two questions:

    a. What are the grounds on which the judicial review is being pursued?

    b. How close to the likely actual final look of the buildings are the sketches in the application? (Are they still general indications or specific plans?)

    It's the Lennox Road / Stroud Green Road corner in particular I'm wondering about as though there's much about the rest I like, that corner looks like it could come up rather like some of the worst of the '90s style red brick and glass bland redevelopments around the place.
  • Kate Jones
    The main focus of their appeal is ref the Student Housing. Islington feel that the Inspectorate's decision contradicts their Core Strategy to limit student housing in the borough. They say that at the time they turned down our original planning this Core Strategy was still new but is now in place and was treated by the inspector as having limited weight.

    So the Grounds of Challenge from Islington are:
    1. Misunderstanding of the development plan policies in respect of student housing
    2. Unlawful conclusion that a scheme would be unviable with conventional housing

    I don't really know why they are being so heavy handed about it, but it does seem that they are doing everything they can to stamp down on what we're trying to achieve. They seem to be trying to force us to develop the site as affordable housing (in fact one of their councillors has mentioned a couple of times that they'd like to introduce us to Family Mosaic and has questioned what type of contract we have in place with our current developer Spiritbond...), but none of the conventional housing developers we have spoken to have been able to come up with a scheme that keeps us on site.

    Islington are sending a clear message that they favour the site's development as affordable housing over keeping John Jones in the borough. They seem to want us to sell and go.... which we don't want to do!

    Mark - the Lennox Rd/ Stroud Green corner is where the affordable housing units would be, its in grey brick. I'll raise your comment with the architects now.
  • Mirandola

    Any news?

  • ArkadyArkady

    Last I heard the judicial review was going to be in September/October (http://www.johnjones.co.uk/art-projects/arts-building/latest-news)

  • ArkadyArkady

    Likely delayed until February. Apparently the courts are busy processing all the thieving douchebags caught duing riot season.

  • ArkadyArkady

    They are now being told May 2012.

  • Ali

    Is this a case of red tape that the Government are trying cut - there must be economic benefits that are delayed due to this delay

  • Thomas

    Agreed.

    The Planning Inspectorate ruled the application was fine - the council should just accept this and move on. Seems like a monumental waste of money dragging this through the courts at a time when they are cutting spending on important services. The council are also smothering a potentially important development for Finsbury Park (both economically and aesthetically) and failing to support a key local business.

    Is there not some way to put pressure on Islington to rethink their stance on this? - What is the position of the local councillor / MP for example?! perhaps need to get the local media on the side of John Jones - they would surely salivate at such a waste of public money. I wonder who at the council is actually responsible for the aggressive stance on this.

    The new planning guidance (although under consultation) is meant to introduce a 'presumption in favour of devleopment' - so maybe Islington should rethink their opposition anyway.

  • ArkadyArkady

    I'm not sure how I feel about 'presumption in favour of development', but this project is excellent and the judicial review is an outrageous waste of money. JRs should be saved for situations where there is a significant public outcry.

    Any hacks (krappyrubsnif) or people with any political pull (Mark Pack) out there?

    Arky

  • Donna

    I agree!

  • applehead

    Sendying all best wishes and good luck to John Jones on judicial review (if that is what it is called) tomorrow xxx

  • Kate Jones

    @applehead Thank you! We are all going along to the hearing today. Fingers firmly crossed!

  • drewpasmith

    Hi Kate,

    Big vote of support from me too.

    Hope it all goes well.

    Cheers,

    Drew

  • ArkadyArkady

    Bonne chance.  I'll be ecstatic if this goes through.

  • ArkadyArkady

    Have they given you an indication of when you might hear the result? I’m told these things can take months.

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