Dalston Terrace to be demolished after council vote

pic: Rhys A.

Objectors are disappointed that the demolition is to go ahead  pic: Rhys A.

A terrace of Georgian houses in Dalston is to be demolished despite protests from hundreds of local residents, Hackney council planners decided last night

At the planning committee meeting, the chair Vincent Stops cast the deciding vote in favour of demolition after the committee vote was deadlocked.

Hackney Council started the demolition in early 2014 before being forced to stop
due to lack of legal permission.

The council has received 785 objection letters. Campaigners from groups
including OPEN Dalston, Hackney Society and the East End Preservation Society
attended to voice their objections to the demolition.

They argued that the retention of the facade would be possible using sustainable
techniques and that further inspection is required to find a solution.

A council spokesperson said: “The quality of the bricks is very poor. We have recommended that the facade should be taken down and then rebuilt. There are bricks that can be reused for the new facade.”

Lisa Shell, one of the objectors who argued against the demolition at the meeting, explained that taking down the facade and rebuilding it would not count as preservation. She said: “This is not a conservation, this is an offence.”

The council sold the buildings at an auction in 2002 before repurchasing them in
2010 with plans to carry out a preservation project.

The council is working in partnership with engineering company Murphy to
create 44 new flats in the historical houses.

2 Comments

  1. David March 6, 2014
  2. Jemima Broadbridge March 7, 2014

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