This decision was made by Islington Council’s executive on Thursday, April 24, in response to economic uncertainty and strong community opposition.
The plans would have seen the construction of some 200 homes alongside a new leisure centre and medical centre on the Finsbury Leisure Centre site.
However, the council decided to withdraw these plans after listening to concerns from the public and considering the risks involved.
Council leader councillor Una O’Halloran said: “It’s no secret that councils across the country are facing significant financial challenges, and while Islington is on a strong financial footing, I’m not prepared to put this in jeopardy by pressing ahead with a project facing increasing risks from fast-changing global forces beyond our control.
“This was not an easy decision.
“Since I became leader in November, I have spent a lot of time visiting the site, listening to local people and considering the risks this project faced, and I have decided that there are different ways to build the genuinely affordable homes our borough needs while protecting these open spaces.”
Instead of the redevelopment, the council plans to modernise the existing leisure centre, protect and improve the sports pitches, and consider the creation of a new neighbourhood health hub.
The council will also look to build more genuinely affordable housing elsewhere in the borough.
The decision to withdraw the plans was welcomed by EC1Voices, a community group that has challenged the council’s financial assumptions about the plans.
He asked for a formal assurance that the football pitches, which have been the subject of three abortive attempts to build on since 2007, would be protected for the long term.
Cllr O’Halloran responded by promising a formal statement of intention to protect the pitches.
The council’s updated commitment states that it will invest to modernise the existing leisure centre, protect and improve the sports pitches, and consider a new neighbourhood health hub.
This decision brings an end to 18 years of uncertainty for the Finsbury Leisure Centre site.
It means that the planning application for the project will be withdrawn, and alternative options for investing in existing facilities will be developed.
Cllr O’Halloran added: “Our commitment to building new genuinely affordable social housing remains undimmed, and we will look at alternative sites already in the early stages of development across the borough to deliver the new homes so many families need.”
The council’s decision to withdraw the plans for the Finsbury Leisure Centre site was made at the same meeting where plans to close Highbury Quadrant and St Jude & St Paul’s primary schools were agreed.
Councillor O’Halloran said these were “incredibly difficult decisions” but believed they were in the best interests of the borough.
EC1Voices says it looks forward to working constructively with the council to safeguard the pitches and protect the open space for future generations.
