A planning application for the redevelopment of Camley Street set to build 401 new homes and 1,000 new jobs has been given the go-ahead.
Camden Council’s Community Investment Programme and development parters Ballymore and Lateral were granted planning consent for the redevelopment of Camley Street at last night’s Planning Committee meeting (Thursday, 29 January).
The redevelopment will deliver 401 new homes in the area. Of the new homes, almost 50 per cent will be available at social rents for families on Camden’s housing register and intermediate rents for key workers, providing secure and reduced-rate housing options in the borough.
Over 1,000 new jobs and opportunities are also set to be created through the provision of more than 350,000sq ft of employment space. Creative spaces will be available at affordable rents for local businesses, whilst jobs, training, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities will be ringfenced for local people, both during construction and once the development is complete.
Plans also include establishing a greener, healthier, and more connected neighbourhood, with new car-free public spaces, shops, cafes, and improved pedestrian and cycling routes, supporting sustainable travel connections to King’s Cross and Camden Town.
Councillor Nasrine Djemai, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Community Investment at Camden Council, said: “This is a fantastic outcome for Camden and our residents. The redevelopment at Camley Street will provide hundreds of new affordable, family-sized, energy-efficient homes in the borough, of which nearly 50% will be genuinely affordable homes for local people.
“Combining homes with commercial development will also support local growth and provide over 1000 job and training opportunities that will directly benefit our residents. The life science, technology, and digital industries are booming in Camden and we want to facilitate this growth, but more crucially, we want to ensure our residents have access to the jobs created by them. This includes placements for school children and creating apprenticeships and training, so that residents growing up in the borough have clear and varied pathway into these jobs.
“Following almost five years of engagement with local communities and businesses to create a shared vision for Camley Street, we’re delighted to get the go ahead for a scheme that delivers on many of the asks of the Neighbourhood Forum, and aligns with the aspirations and needs of local people”
John Mulryan, Group Managing Director at Ballymore added: “Achieving planning consent for this scheme just 14 months after we were chosen as the development partner is a testament to the work of the entire team, and shows how the public and private sectors can work together to deliver the places we need.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, and the local community, to deliver the high-quality homes, green spaces and commercial uses that will make Camley Street a thriving community in the heart of Camden.”
Rob Beacroft, Co-founder, Lateral said: “We’re delighted that our plans to integrate science and technology into the new Camley Street neighbourhood have been positively received. We believe urbanising science brings both responsibility and enormous opportunity. That’s why we’ve designed a building that not only provides affordable lab space and supports early-stage ventures, but also opens up to the public through The Mixer – a space for learning, collaboration and community.”
Camden Council partnered with Urban Regeneration specialist Ballymore and Life Sciences Developer/Operator Lateral to deliver the Camley Street project, demonstrating how councils can work with private partners to deliver much needed homes and employment opportunities for local people.
The development sits in the Knowledge Quarter of King’s Cross, home to world-leading research and technology institutes and companies and will deliver significant social and economic benefits, including job creation, apprenticeships and training opportunities for local people, helping ensure residents can access the employment created on their doorstep.
The first homes on the site are expected to be ready for occupation by late 2030.
