Pic: Open Dalston Blog

This week EastLondonLines reported on proposals for an 18-storey tower block on Kingsland High Street. We visited the area to find out what people who live and work in the area think of the planning application and what they see as the impact it will have on the area.

The tower would house 130 flats and a shop on the ground floor, and the developers propose to remodel the station entrance to make it more accessible.

The plans have caused heated debate in the area. A local blog, Open Dalston, has highlighted some controversial aspects of the proposals.

Out of 130 flats planned, only 17 flats are deemed to be “affordable” and the remainder are for private sale. This falls short of Hackney Council’s guidelines, which states that 50 per cent of the flats on offer should be affordable to local people.

One of the main causes of concern is the height of the building, as there are no buildings higher than four storeys on the street and surrounding areas – it is thought the building could block light from other properties.

A spokesperson for Rothas Limited, the developer bringing forward these proposals, said: “Discussions with the council and other stakeholders regarding affordable housing and the proposed improvements to the station are still ongoing.”

Details of the application can be found on Hackney Council’s website using application no: 2011/3439. The public consultation will close on January 30, with a decision expected on March 7.

Here are some reactions we had from people in Dalston;

Video by Irene Baque and Albert Steinberger