Key Points
- A group of residents on the Tower Gardens Estate in North Tottenham are campaigning to purchase a long-vacant, three-storey Edwardian-era council-owned management office at 100 Tower Gardens Road, N17 7QA, to transform it into a thriving people-led community centre.
- Haringey Council plans to sell the building due to financial pressures, raising local fears that a private developer might buy it, leave it to rot, board it up, or submit inappropriate planning applications in the conservation area.​
- Karen Loasby, a resident who has lived in the borough for two decades, expressed concerns: “Our worry is, because it’s in a conservation area and needs a lot of work, that a developer who buys it for residential wouldn’t be able to easily make a profit from it. There’s a real nervousness that somebody will put in an inappropriate planning application and then sit on it, or board it up. We just don’t know what the council is hoping for.”​
- The Tower Gardens Estate, built in the early 20th century in Arts and Crafts style, holds Conservation Area status since 1978 and is recognised as one of the foremost social housing designs globally.
- Residents have launched a GoFundMe campaign by Tower Gardens Community Corner, raising £3,653 of £5,000 as of recent updates, with a tight council deadline to secure the building before it goes to open market.​
- Haringey Council recently approved £3.4 million for refurbishing 77 homes on the estate, including roofs, windows, brickwork, and pathways, following resident consultations, as stated by Cllr Sarah Williams: “I’m delighted we will be able to start this project, which is a significant investment in the estate.”​
- The estate’s residents’ association is actively discussing the purchase with the council, amid broader community efforts in Tottenham for people-led initiatives.
- Local history highlights resident activism, including past complaints about lacking community facilities, now echoed in this campaign.municipaldreams.wordpress​
North Tottenham, MyLondon – 15 January 2026
Residents of the Tower Gardens Estate in North Tottenham have launched a determined campaign to buy a derelict council-owned Edwardian building from cash-strapped Haringey Council, aiming to repurpose it as a vibrant community centre and prevent potential neglect or inappropriate development.
Why Are North Londoners Campaigning to Buy This Building?
The push centres on the vacant management office at 100 Tower Gardens Road, a three-storey Edwardian-era structure long unused and now slated for sale by Haringey Council amid budget constraints. Campaigners, organised under the Tower Gardens Community Corner group, fear that private developers might acquire it cheaply, given its location in a conservation area requiring extensive repairs, only to abandon it or pursue unviable residential conversions. As reported in MyLondon, this nervousness stems from the building’s challenging profitability for residential use, prompting locals to step in with a community-led vision.​
Karen Loasby, a long-time borough resident of two decades, articulated these worries clearly.
“Our worry is, because it’s in a conservation area and needs a lot of work, that a developer who buys it for residential wouldn’t be able to easily make a profit from it,”
she told MyLondon. She added,
“There’s a real nervousness that somebody will put in an inappropriate planning application and then sit on it, or board it up. We just don’t know what the council is hoping for.”
This reflects broader anxieties in North Tottenham about preserving community assets in the face of council disposals.​
What Is the History of Tower Gardens Estate?
Tower Gardens Estate, also known as White Hart Lane Estate, stands as a historic gem in North Tottenham, constructed in the early 20th century by the London County Council in the Arts and Crafts style influenced by the Garden City movement. Featuring cottage-like homes with large front gardens, it earned Conservation Area protection in 1978, safeguarding its unique craftsmanship and working-class heritage. Local resident Ruth Crowley, speaking at a Hornsey Historical Society event, described it as “one of the foremost social housing designs of its type in the UK and the world,” highlighting its status as an early county council housing estate and garden suburb off White Hart Lane.
Historical records from Municipal Dreams note early resident activism, including the estate association’s complaints about the absence of a dedicated community hall, forcing reliance on school facilities—a gap this campaign seeks to address over a century later. The estate’s architecture, with red brick and detailed quoins noted in conservation appraisals, underscores its cultural value amid modern pressures.minutes.
How Has the Council Invested in the Estate Recently?
Haringey Council’s Cabinet approved nearly £3.4 million in December 2025 for major upgrades to 77 properties on the estate, focusing on energy-efficient roofs, windows, entrance doors, brickwork repairs, fencing renewal, and accessible pathways. This follows extensive resident engagement to align works with priorities while preserving architectural integrity via the council’s Conservation Team. Cllr Sarah Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, welcomed the move:
“I’m delighted we will be able to start this project, which is a significant investment in the estate. The programme marks a vital step toward enhancing the long-term sustainability, safety, and quality of our homes—ultimately enriching the lives of our residents.”
Tenants shaped the designs, with commitments to ongoing communication, aiming to cut bills for low-income families and meet decent homes standards by 2028. This forms part of a £600 million decade-long push for council housing improvements borough-wide, advancing net zero goals.​
What Are the Campaigners’ Plans for the Building?
The group envisions a “thriving people-led community centre” at the site, filling a long-standing void in local facilities. As detailed on the residents’ association site towerGardens.org.uk, they are in direct conversations with Haringey Council to secure the property before open-market sale. A GoFundMe page by Tower Gardens Community Corner warns:
“Haringey Council plans to sell the historic White Hart Lane estate office at 100 Tower Gardens Road. They have set a tight deadline. If we do not secure this building for the community now, it will likely be sold on the open market to private developers and once it is gone, it is gone forever.”
Funds raised stand at £3,653 towards £5,000, supporting initial steps for community ownership. This aligns with wider Tottenham efforts, such as Our Tottenham’s community benefit societies for other sites like Wards Corner, where locals successfully challenged developers.
Why Is Haringey Council Selling Assets Like This?
Haringey Council faces severe financial strains, prompting asset sales to balance books, as implied in coverage of the disposal plans. Despite housing investments, the authority builds 3,000 new council homes by 2031—the first in a generation—while offloading non-residential holdings like the estate office. Critics in similar past cases, like Wards Corner, accused the council of favouring developers, though recent estate upgrades show commitment to tenants.
No direct council statement on the sale appears in available reports, but residents note uncertainty over expectations. Cllr Williams’ comments on housing focus suggest priorities lie elsewhere amid £600 million commitments.​
Who Is Leading the Community Effort?
Karen Loasby emerges as a key voice, voicing resident fears with decades of local insight. The Tower Gardens Community Corner spearheads fundraising and talks, building on the estate’s activist tradition. Ruth Crowley contributes historical advocacy, linking past to present. Broader groups like Our Tottenham provide models of success in community asset stewardship.
What Challenges Do Campaigners Face?
Key hurdles include the tight council deadline, renovation costs in a conservation area, and competition from developers. Profitability concerns for private buyers could deter bids but also complicate community financing. Nonetheless, resident momentum, bolstered by recent council-resident collaborations on upgrades, offers hope.
Could This Succeed Amid Council Finances?
Success hinges on swift fundraising and negotiations, mirroring triumphs like Wards Corner where community plans gained planning permission despite developer pullouts. Haringey’s openness to resident input, as in the £3.4 million project, bodes well. Failure risks the building’s dereliction, echoing “unloved” structures elsewhere, but locals remain resolute.
