Key Points:
- The Mayor of London has called in plans for redevelopment of the former Archway Hospital site into 178 flats and 242 student rooms.
- Property investment firm SevenCapital, after acquiring the Victorian-era hospital site in 2021, proposed the residential complex including a 27-storey student housing tower.
- The plan has been met with strong opposition from local community members, who have raised hundreds of objections.
- Islington Council previously blocked the scheme in March 2025, citing concerns about affordable housing delivery, unclear university affiliation for student accommodation, and the height of the proposed tower deemed excessive.
- Opponents have labelled the development as “slums of the future,” reflecting fears about quality and livability.
- Campaigners have crowdfunded to hire a barrister to challenge the development.
- The Mayor’s intervention has reignited the debate and opposition around the project and affordable housing issues.
What is the redevelopment plan for the former Archway Hospital site?
The former Victorian-era Archway Hospital site in Islington, North London, purchased in 2021 by property investment firm SevenCapital, is at the centre of a contentious redevelopment plan. The company proposed transforming the vacant hospital buildings into a residential complex consisting of 178 flats and 242 student rooms. Integral to the plan was a 27-storey tower designated for student housing. This modern development aims to repurpose the historic site to address housing needs.
Why has the plan faced opposition from the local community?
Despite ambitions to regenerate the site, the project has provoked a significant backlash within the community. Hundreds of objections have been lodged, voicing doubts over the quality and impact of the housing. A prominent sentiment among campaigners is that the development risked creating the “slums of the future,” indicating fears about substandard living conditions and inadequate infrastructure to support the dense population. Questions also arose over SevenCapital’s capacity to meet affordable housing targets and uncertainty about which university the student accommodation would serve contributed to the objections.
What was Islington Council’s stance on the redevelopment?
As reported by MyLondon, in March 2025, Islington Council took a firm stance by blocking SevenCapital’s planning application. The council identified multiple conflicts with established planning policies, including non-compliance with the London Plan. A key criticism focused on the excessive height of the proposed 27-storey tower, which the council deemed incompatible with the surrounding urban landscape. Moreover, the council expressed reservations about whether the developer’s affordable housing commitments were credible or enforceable.
How has the Mayor of London responded to the controversy?
The Mayor of London has now decided to call in the plans for a reconsideration. This move places the responsibility for the planning decision in the hands of the Mayor rather than the local council, citing the significance of the project. The Mayor’s intervention has revitalised the campaigners’ opposition and brought renewed scrutiny to how the site will be developed. The decision underscores the importance of balancing housing development with community and policy standards.
What actions are campaigners taking to oppose the development?
In response to the Mayor’s call-in decision, campaign groups opposing the plan have organised to strengthen their challenge. They have crowdfunded to hire a barrister to legally contest the approval process, aiming to halt what they perceive to be poor-quality and unsuitable housing development. These organised community efforts highlight deep and persistent resistance to the proposed scheme and reflect wider concerns about housing quality and affordability in London.
