A block of 66 empty flats by the Golden Lane Estate in Central London may begin to be occupied this September, more than two years after residents were meant to begin moving in.
By Ben Lynch
A block of 66 empty flats by the Golden Lane Estate in Central London may begin to be occupied this September, more than two years after residents were meant to begin moving in.
Black Raven Court, a development on the border with Islington though developed by the City of London Corporation, has faced ongoing delays due largely to a dispute between the City and its main contractor.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) wrote last July how residents were expected to start moving into their flats this year.
This was despite an update on the scheme in November 2022 which stated the homes would be ready from March 2023.
At a Housing Management and Almshouses Sub-Committee meeting on Monday (June 30), an officer however confirmed that, all going well, occupation should begin around September.
Black Raven Court is on the same site and is part of the same project as the new City of London Primary Academy Islington (COLPAI), which has opened. The 66 flats are split between City and Islington residents, though have sat vacant for more than a year.
When the LDRS visited last summer, the school was busy with children clearly heard playing. The flats, though appearing complete, were however quiet and unused.
The issue at the time was understood to relate to a type of board used on the site which, while complying with building regulations, could not be insured.
No route forward had been agreed between the City and contractor ISG, with potential adjudication looming. ISG went into administration a couple of months later.
An update on the COLPAI project in February referenced a “change in contractors”, adding the aim was to welcome new residents in the summer.
“Before residents can move in, the building must be certified as fire safe,” the update continued. “This requires rerouting the fire exit around the building and through the under croft to Golden Lane.”
At Monday’s committee meeting, Deputy Anne Corbett, a representative of the Cripplegate ward, asked for an update on the COLPAI project. Noting how the cost had gone from £29 million to £61m, she asked when residents can expect to move in.
Michael Gwyther-Jones, Head of New Developments and Special Projects, said the current position is that while building control has been completed Black Raven Court is yet to receive its safety certificate.
He added this could take several weeks to get from Islington Council, and that until then the block cannot be registered with the building safety regulator.
“So say we achieve that by the end of July, the building should be registered by the end of August, and occupation should be able to start during September,” he said. “You can’t occupy without registration, so that’s the key issue.”
Committee Chair Common Councillor Steve Goodman added there has been “huge frustration” among members and officers at the homes being empty for so long.
Earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Corporation said the local authority is “proud to be a social landlord supporting residents and investing tens of millions across the City and six neighbouring boroughs”.
