After fifty relatively sleepy years, Golden Lane Estate is now at the centre of major change. The most conspicuous is the recladding of Great Arthur House. This is due for completion in 2018. Read latest update here.

On a smaller scale, the new children’s playground designed by muf architects is nearing completion. Building works have finished and an artist is currently starting to paint the inner wall. See the architect's concept here and the latest newsletter from the Estate Office here.

Work is also progressing on the restoration of the Community Centre. This will be a home for the City of London Community Education Centre (COLCEC) and a range of community activities. There are ongoing discussions about whether the centre should also provide a home for the Estate Office.

Despite these much needed improvements, the fabric of the estate is now in very poor condition. Concrete in all of the buildings is in a bad state of repair. All of the blocks, apart from Great Arthur House need to be decorated and repaired and, most controversially, the windows need to be replaced.

At the moment there is no indication from the City as to the costs or the timescales for these repairs and improvements.

Surrounding Neighbourhood

In addition to change within the estate, the impact of neighbouring developments will be huge. Bernard Morgan House is due to be replaced with luxury flats and is currently subject to a major campaign and possible legal action to avoid it being turned into a ‘ghost town’. Demolition work is now complete.

The site of the former Richard Cloudesley School is due to be developed as a primary school for c450 children for the City of London Academy and a scheme of 66 flats. This is also subject to a campaign for a smaller school and a more elegantly-designed apartment block which properly links to the estate. Islington Planning Committee meet 7.30 pm on March 1.

Just opposite Hatfield House at 5 Sycamore Street planning permission has just been granted for a new office block. Read article in the AJ.

In December 2015 the City of London published its Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy which recommends a range of improvements to the public realm adjacent to both the Barbican Estate and Fann Street. More recently the City announced the launch of its Culture Mile concept for a public realm and marketing campaign linking the new Museum of London on the Smithfield Market site with the Barbican Arts Centre.

And possibly the most significant change of all is the imminent opening of the Elizabeth Line formerly known as Crossrail which will make Farringdon one of the busiest stations on the underground. The effect of this on Golden Lane is yet to be experienced.

Golden Lane residents will be significantly affected by all of these changes and yet the level of our involvement in any decision making on this has been unimpressive.

Useful Info - Planning Policies

The Finsbury Local Plan (Area Action Plan for Bunhill and Clerkenwell)

City of London Local Plan 2015

Golden Lane Estate Listed Building Management Guidelines Supplementary Planning Document 2013

St Lukes Conservation Area Design Guidelines

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