Scheme to build complex with retail and office units on car park

Residents are up in arms over plans to build a 170-bedroom hotel complex on a car park in Clerkenwell.

Those living in Farringdon Road have condemned the plans to replace the NCP car park with a seven-storey hotel alongside office and retail units as “social cleansing” as they contain no affordable housing pledges.

Jacqueline Czelny, 41, who lives in nearby Levyne Court, is one of a number of residents to oppose the proposals, which were submitted to the council in May by Endurance Land Ltd, Farringdon.

She said: “This hotel is not for residents, there is no affordable housing whatsoever.

“The developer will need to pay 20 per cent of the cost to the council to develop housing elsewhere in the borough.”

Concerns have been raised over the increased noise and pollution that will be generated in Bowling Green Lane, which lies to the south of the car park – which will be used as a taxi and minibus pick-up point.

The proposed design also overlooks Catherine Griffiths Court, a residential block of mainly elderly and disabled residents.

Residents are worried that the walkway at the back of the block and leading to the proposed hotel site might be bought up for conversion into a guest car park.

An Endurance Land spokesman said: “The new development has been carefully designed to minimise the impact on local residents.

“The removal of the ugly and outdated car park will reduce the number of cars on local streets and that will improve air quality and cut pollution for local residents.

“The new development will make the existing drab and soulless street environment along Farringdon Road a lot more attractive for pedestrians, including local people.”