The former site of Moorfields school

The long-running saga over the future of a former Finsbury primary school looks set to end after the council nodded through plans for a block of flats.

Last week, Islington Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for Southern Housing Group to build a five storey block housing 65 homes – 19 of which will be affordable housing – on the erstwhile site of Moorfields Primary School, on the corner of Featherstone Street and Bunhill Row.

But people in the area are concerned about the impact on neighbouring Bunhill Cemetery, a Grade I listed burial ground.

And the development has dripped with controversy throughout – being turned down by the council last year and briefly becoming home to the Occupy protest after they left Finsbury Square.

Vince Mitchell, co-ordinator of Moorfield Resident’s Action Group Executive, said: “The worry is, now they have approval, they will make little changes to the plans without needing permission that will make it a lot worse than it already is.”

Dale Meredith, from Southern Housing Group, said: “We are delighted with the decision. It has not been an easy process. We have worked with Islington Council and taken all stakeholder considerations into account.”

to come up with a scheme that will deliver some much needed affordable housing in the area.”