A disused storeroom has been converted into the heartbeat of a community.

On Tuesday, Cllr Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, dropped by at Lower Holloway’s Ringcross Estate to open a new residents’ hub in the Soldene Court flat block.

The neglected first floor storeroom, in the block’s communal area, is now a multi-purpose room to be used by the block’s tenants and residents’ association.

The group will use it to conduct tenant surgeries, workshops, training sessions, drop-in sessions to discuss tenancy issues - as well as provide an information station to help residents gain access to employment and other services.

Residents will be also be able to use the hub to hold meetings and plan community projects for the estate.

The storeroom was renovated free of charge by Mears Group for the Hyde Group, the estate’s housing association.

Frances Punter, chairwoman of the tenants and residents’ association, said: “We are so happy that the project is such a success with the combined effort from Hyde and Mears, working together for a better community.”