Holborn Studios
Demolition of heritage buildings and displacement of photographic studios
See below for documents and images that describe a proposal to sweep buildings and people away from the Regent's Canal forever.
Existing frontage
Proposed buildings
What's so special about Holborn Studios?
Holborn Studios is a successful local business in Hoxton. It includes the largest photographic studio complex of its kind in Europe and attracts a wide variety of prominent clients to the area. It keeps several hundred people in local employment and has been described as a university of photography. Its iconic canal frontage is one of the very few remaining buildings that remind us of the canal's industrial past and that is one of the reasons why it is on the local heritage listing. Local residents have always appreciated its external features and in recent months we have also had the opportunity to enjoy guided tours of the premises to understand what happens behind the scenes and to discover how well these buildings have been restored and utilised. The threat of losing these buildings and the photographic complex has united the Friends of Regent's Canal and other communities more than any other issue in the past five years.
Here are some photos that reveal the huge transformation from neglected industrial buildings to the studio complex that we know today.
Why are these proposals so unpopular?
Judging by the images in the planning documents the new Holborn Studios frontage could look like a variant of the deserted Gainsborough Studios further downstream along the Regent's Canal. This would be a kick in the teeth for canal users and local communities who value a visible connection to the area's industrial heritage. The chimney that currently brings charm to the landscape would become an ornament tucked between modern blocks. The studios would be displaced from their prominent position on the ground floor to a basement that is unsuitable in practical terms and would stifle the creative energy that goes hand in hand with using the existing buildings. Many Londoners will view this proposal as an exercise in social, commercial and cultural cleansing and the very modest offering of affordable housing is a small benefit compared with the expected disruption and damage. Most importantly, this site is in the Regent's Canal Conservation Area and the plans defy Hackney Council's policy to protect these buildings that were given a local heritage listing in April 2014.
How to object
Please send your objections to barry.coughlan@hackney.gov.uk and planning@hackney.gov.uk quoting reference 2017/3511.
If you need help in objecting then please send an e-mail to friendsregentscanal@gmail.com
Sample objections
See objections from canal supporters
See 9-page professional objection from Iceni Projects Ltd
Council website
Show summary of the application
