Camden Passage Mall Traders Win Planning Reprieve

12.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd May 2008

Small traders in Camden Passage Mall were granted a reprieve this week as councillors on the Council's planning committee turned down plans to turn the Camden Passage Mall into a large department store.

The refused planning application would have replaced the 35 small shops in the Mall, the "jewel in the crown" of the world-famous Camden Passage, with a single open-plan retail space. An application from the property developer London and Associated Properties PLC looked to remove the internal divisions and open up the interior to house one large shop. The Mall was formerly a tram shed and transformer station, but was converted from industrial use into shops and a restaurant in 1979.

302 written objections were received from local residents and businesses, and 150 people turned out for the meeting, with a dozen speaking out against the planning application. This is estimated to be the biggest crowd ever drawn to a South Area Planning sub-committee, a sign of the strength of local feeling.

The councillors on the committee unanimously voted against the planning application.

Councillor George Allan, Liberal Democrat chair of the planning committee, commented that:

"The committee decided that the proposed alterations would be detrimental to the special and historical interest of the Mall, and Camden Passage generally. The amount of objections the committee received, and the unprecedented number of people that came to the meeting to give evidence, shows the real strength of feeling in the community that the Mall should be preserved as it is."

James Kempton, Liberal Democrat leader of Islington Council, who is fighting to keep the antiques trade alive in Camden Passage, said:

"I am pleased the planning committee listened to the local community and threw out this planning application. The Mall is the jewel in the crown of the Camden Passage antiques market. It really contributes to the local character of the area for residents and visitors alike.

I expect the developers will appeal over our heads to the Government to grant them permission. But you have my assurance that if they do the council will vigorously defend our decision and fight for the future of the antiques trade at Camden Passage. "

The application may now be taken to a Government planning inspector on appeal, so the battle to save the Mall is not over yet.