Passed by a majority of six to five councillors on Monday (15 June), the massive scheme to create a 93,000m2 mixed-use district faced opposition from more than a dozen local residents groups, the Camden Green Party and hundreds of individual letters submitted to the council.
As well as ‘world-class’ studios and sound stages and a range of post-production facilities, the project includes a mixed-use neighbourhood offering more than 1,000 homes, of which 50 per cent would be designated ‘affordable’.
The project is being delivered by Yoo Capital for social enterprise developer Places for People. The first phase includes 485 homes designed by Broadway Malyan’s housing studio, BM Stitch.
Concerns raised at Monday’s meeting included the proposed scale and massing of both the residential buildings, which are 16 and 23 storeys tall respectively, and the main film studio, which would also reach 23 storeys. The latter will provide eight production studios alongside workshops, offices and accommodation.
Speaking on Monday, Lorna Russell, Green councillor and leader of the opposition in Camden Council, said: ‘This is a series of very tall tower blocks alongside a monstrosity of a film studio, the scale and bulk of which will dominate the skyline.’
Also objecting at the meeting were representatives from the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum, a residents group which had its plan formally adopted by the council in 2016, meaning that the authority is obliged to consult the document when considering applications.
Members of the group argued that the Camden Film Quarter was not in line with the priorities set out for the Regis Road site in the Neighbourhood Plan, which states that redevelopment should be employment-led, instead of mixed-use.
The Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum joined a total of 18 community groups in objecting to the scheme, with common concerns around size and scale, the impact on local businesses and the effect on protected views from Parliament Hill.
Another key issues raised at committee was the proposal to create new flats above a replacement recycling centre, which were branded dangerous due to the risk potentially posed by flammable batteries, which have caused fires at similar facilities in recent years.
Despite these objections, the planning officer recommended the scheme for approval, concluding that the new buildings would ‘integrate well into the surrounding context’, allowing for the delivery of future parcels of land to ‘achieve the aspirations of the Kentish Town Planning Framework’.
Significant weight was given to the provision of new homes, which would ‘contribute significantly to the borough being able to meet its housing targets’, according to the planning officer’s report.
On the question of fire safety, Bethany Cullen, Head of Development Management at Camden Council, argued that the council was not responsible for delivering the final word on whether a project was compliant with regulations, and that it should not attempt to ‘duplicate the role of other regulatory authorities’ which will look at the application at later stages.
Camden Film Quarter is touted as the ‘first purpose-built film studio campus’ in inner London. SPPARC said last year the development was in response to the ‘booming demand from the global screen industry for production space in the heart of London’, where some 900 film-related companies are operating.
Plans also include two film and television schools, which will sit within an on-site education hub and provide opportunities for young people.
Lloyd Lee, co-Founder and managing partner of Yoo Capital, said: ‘Camden Film Quarter is much more than a film studio development. It is a complete creative ecosystem that brings together production, education, employment, homes, culture and public space within a single integrated vision.
‘At a time when the UK screen sector requires new infrastructure to remain globally competitive, Camden Film Quarter demonstrates how the creative industries can act as a catalyst for transformational regeneration.
‘We are delivering a new model for urban communities’
‘By creating a place where people can learn, create, work, live and play, we are delivering a new model for urban communities and one of the most significant creative industry districts anywhere in Europe.’
The quarter will be located to the north of Regis Road, opening up an underused site and improving access to the area through a new network of pedestrian and cycle paths, which run through additional parks and green spaces. A new cycle bridge crossing the railway line is planned to shorten the journey between Kentish Town and Hampstead Heath.
SPPARC said the appearance of the studios was ‘inspired by civic architecture’ so as to blend the production sites with the surrounding area.
It added: ‘Buildings have been carefully designed to acknowledge the local area’s rich diversity of architecture, referencing its historic industries and former railway goodsyard where the site is located.’
Practice principal at SPPARC Trevor Morriss said last year: ‘Innovating for the industry with its stacked studios, and as the first of its kind in Europe and one of only a handful in the world, our masterplan seeks to reimagine what film studios can look like.’
He added: ‘Our ambition is to deliver a vibrant, open neighbourhood that brings creative industries together with local communities by blending production space with living, education, leisure and high-quality public realm.’
Detailed site plan for SPPARC Camden Film Quarter in Kentish Town
Source: SPPARC
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