Policy information sourced from the Finsbury Local Plan
BC4 Northampton Square, Goswell Road and Spencer Street
New development will enhance the legibility and character of this area, strengthening the identity of its streets and spaces, and building on its diverse mix of uses, including:
- Redeveloped and refurbished buildings for City University London, providing new education floorspace and activities ancillary to education, with facilities that are accessible to the local community.
- A diverse range of employment spaces, small-scale retail units and community facilities, including the retention of the Finsbury Library and Islington Museum.
- New homes, particularly affordable family homes.
- Public realm improvements to Goswell Road, Spencer Street and Northampton Square.
The following should be provided by development proposals:
A) For City University London sites, new and refurbished buildings which:
- Provide a range of accessible and efficient higher education facilities, including teaching space, laboratories, learning resource areas, support offices, social facilities, and facilities which would maximise community access to education,
- Conserve and enhance heritage assets, particularly the Northampton Square Conservation Area and recognised and historic landmarks,
- Respond positively and appropriately to important frontages and street corners, and create variety and interest at street level,
- Provide high quality landmark building(s) fronting Spencer Street and Goswell Road,
- Exhibit sensitive design and massing, in particular by visually breaking up large blocks, not overly dominating neighbouring spaces and buildings, and ensuring a high standard of amenity for existing residents,
- Create high quality pedestrian links between Northampton Square and Spencer Street, to better distribute pedestrian activity around the area, and
- Create open space within the main site, including green space.
B) An improved public realm, including:
- On Spencer Street and Goswell Road, tree planting that creates a sense of enclosure and mitigates local air pollution, and highway improvements that promote pedestrian and cyclist movement and safety.
- Improvements to the northern edge of Northampton Square Gardens, which integrate with the park and incorporate cycle parking.
- Refurbishment of the bandstand within Northampton Square Gardens.
C) The retention of workspaces suitable for start-ups, social enterprises and small businesses, including light industrial workshops; and the provision of new small workspaces (e.g. through the conversion of lock-up garages).
D) The retention and enhancement of active ground floor uses and community facilities fronting Spencer Street, Goswell Road and St. John Street.
E) A range of housing types and sizes, provided in appropriate locations and on currently under-used sites, and which exhibit a high standard of amenity.
F) For the Triangle Estate, proposals will be supported where these would improve the quality of the living environment, and would result in better quality ground floor frontages, improved safety, enhanced definition between public and private space, improved accessibility and appropriate permeability.
G) Maximising the use of green roofs or walls and other natural features within new buildings and spaces.
H) Expansion of, and connection to, existing Decentralised Energy networks, where viable.
For more information please see the Local Plan