The Planning Committee of Islington Council met on 14 October 2025 to discuss two planning applications. The committee granted planning permission for the Andover Medical Centre redevelopment and for the proposed development at 30 Bastwick Street.

Andover Medical Centre, 270-282 Hornsey Road, London, N7 7QZ

The committee granted planning permission for the demolition of the existing single-storey Andover Medical Centre and the erection of a six-storey mixed-use development. The new building will provide approximately 275 square metres of medical/health floor space on the ground and first floors, and 23 residential units on the upper floors. The proposal includes associated landscaping, refuse, and cycle parking facilities. The existing medical practice is set to relocate to refurbished premises nearby, ensuring continuity of healthcare provision. The development will deliver 52% affordable housing, comprising nine social rent units and three shared ownership units, meeting the requirements of Local Plan Policy H3. The design has been influenced by the surrounding context, with materials chosen to blend with the dominant red-brick character of Hornsey Road. The scheme is car-free, with two disabled parking bays available on request for wheelchair-accessible flats. Environmental measures include a biodiverse green roof, swift bricks, bat boxes, and bee bricks, exceeding the minimum urban greening factor and biodiversity net gain targets. The proposal is recommended for approval, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement.

30 Bastwick Street, London, EC1V 3PS

Planning permission was granted for the demolition of the existing building at 30 Bastwick Street and the construction of a four-storey building with two basement levels. The development will provide approximately 627 square metres of commercial office space (Use Class E) on the basement and ground floors, and seven residential dwellings on the first floor and above. This proposal is similar in design to a previously approved scheme for an office-only development on the site, but incorporates residential units on the upper floors. The site is located within the Central Activities Zone and the Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan, where office floorspace is a priority. The proposal includes a net increase in business floorspace, though less than the 80% office floorspace proportion typically required in this area. However, the officer's report noted that the site-specific circumstances, design constraints, and commercial viability justified the proposed mix of uses.

The development will provide seven residential units, and a small sites affordable housing contribution of £415,616 has been secured, representing the maximum viable contribution. The scheme is considered to be well-designed, responding to its context and not causing detriment to nearby heritage assets, including the St Luke's Conservation Area.

Concerns were raised by objectors regarding the impact on daylight and sunlight to neighbouring properties. The assessment indicated that while there would be some reductions beyond BRE guidance, these were considered minor adverse impacts, particularly given the urban context and the fact that the proposal represents an improvement on the extant permission. The development is car-free, with adequate cycle parking and provision for servicing and deliveries on Bastwick Street. Sustainability measures include energy-efficient design, renewable energy sources, and a commitment to a Green Performance Plan. The proposal was recommended for approval, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement.