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Full public access a step closer for City Road Basin

7th Jan 2008

Plans to provide better public access to historic City Road Basin on the Regent’s Canal in Islington have taken a major step forward with development partners British Waterways, Miller Developments, Groveworld, 261 City Road Management Company Limited (an affiliate of Pembroke Real Estate) and London Borough of Islington appointing Charter Construction to begin work to create a new area of civic space at the head of the Basin.

The project will open up public access around the basin for the first time in its history and will form part of a series of parks and open spaces in areas which were previously derelict and inaccessible. The go-ahead for the £3million programme, funded by the development partners with £2million from Government Office for London (GoL), follows an agreement with EDF Energy, which leases land at the head of the basin.

Improvements from Graham Street and Wharf Road

The works, which start today (7 January 2008) and will take around nine months, include preparing the site to allow public access with a decked entrance platform, a stairway and ramp access from City Road, plus access improvements from Graham Street and Wharf Road together with seating, lighting, paving and landscaping.

Encouraging more use of the canal

Terry Stacy, deputy leader of Islington Council and executive member for Housing & Communities, said: "This is an exciting step in the regeneration of City Road Basin. Not only will it open up access to this wonderful local asset, but it will also encourage more use of the canal and the borough’s waterways. The creation of new civic space at the head of the basin will create a fantastic open area and a new leisure destination in the heart of Islington for everyone to enjoy, alongside much-needed new homes, leisure and community facilities."

Stuart Mills, British Waterways' head of property, added: "We are very excited about our plans to bring new life and vitality to the waterside at City Road Basin, creating a fantastic new waterside destination and doubling the amount of greenspace. Like many other communities across Britain, Islington is benefiting from the revitalisation of the UK canal network and the transformation of old canal basins, locks and warehouses into exciting new places to live, work and play."

Jeff Duggan, a director of Groveworld, which has already developed two sites round the Basin, states: "We are delighted that this long awaited redevelopment of the head of the basin is now becoming a reality to the benefit of existing and future residents."

Opening up access to the head of the basin is part of an adopted masterplan, prepared by London Borough of Islington in partnership with Miller Developments, British Waterways and Bennetts Associates Architects, to regenerate City Road Basin on the Regent’s Canal in Islington, providing public access to the basin for the first time. The masterplan, which was adopted by London Borough of Islington in May 2004 following extensive consultation with local residents and businesses, includes:

- a substantial, high density, mixed use development including hundreds of new homes, with shops and restaurants space at ground level;
- two landmark buildings at the southern, City Road end of the basin – 259 (to the east) and 261 (to the west);
- new facilities and accommodation for the Islington Boat Club;
- 58% increase in green space and an almost threefold increase in the level of publicly accessible space; and
- the creation of a new ‘civic space’ at the head of the Basin with public access around the entire basin for the first time in its history.

Last updated: 22/10/2008