How tall is the proposed student building?

The building is 24 floors in height, which is 82 metres. This is the equivalent to 27 storeys because the ground and top floors are double height, plus the roof plant.

Why does the student building need to be so tall?

The proposed height of the student accommodation building is central to the vision for the site. By providing accommodation within a taller, more compact building, the scheme can free up more space at ground level for public use, including a new civic square, wider pavements and improved pedestrian connections. This approach allows the development to contribute not only new homes for students, but also a more generous and welcoming public environment.The building's height also reflects the importance of the site as a prominent gateway into Archway Town Centre. As a visible landmark, it helps create a stronger sense of arrival and identity, while supporting the wider regeneration of the area. By building upwards rather than across the site, the proposal is able to balance the delivery of student accommodation with meaningful public realm improvements that will benefit residents, visitors and students alike.

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SEPTEMBER 2026 UPDATE

The planning application for the former Archway Campus site was originally submitted to the London Borough of Islington in September 2024. In March 2025, Islington Council resolved to refuse the application. The Mayor of London subsequently called in the application for his own determination, meaning the decision will now be made by the Greater London Authority (GLA).

Since then, the project team has worked closely with the GLA, Transport for London (TfL) and Islington Council officers to review the proposals. A number of changes have been made to the proposals as a result and technical assessments have been updated in response to feedback received. Further information on these changes can be viewed below and on the proposals page.

What has changed?

The revised proposals include:

A reduction in the number of homes from 178 to 167.
A revised affordable housing offer delivering all 39 affordable homes at Social Rent, including 12 family homes.
242 purpose-built student accommodation units to support the delivery of housing and heritage restoration.
Minor internal changes to Blocks B, C and the student building in relation to access and fire.
Improvements to transport, access and servicing arrangements, including the removal of the previously proposed loading bay on Highgate Hill.
Enhanced cycle parking, mobility scooter provision and sustainable travel measures.
Updated sustainability information covering energy, overheating, circular economy and whole-life carbon.
Updated heritage, design and environmental assessments.

Further information about the application is included in the FAQ section below.

Additional information can also be viewed by visiting the GLA’s website.

Frequently asked questions

Height

Public realm and landscaping

Affordable housing

Ecology

Impact on surrounding neighbourhood

Heritage

Employment and training opportunities

The application

We developed the proposals in consultation with the London Borough of Islington, GLA, TfL, local residents and other key stakeholders over a number of years, helping to shape a scheme that responds to both community feedback and the long-term needs of the site.

BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSALS

An allocated site

The former Archway Campus is identified within Islington's Local Plan as a site for residential-led redevelopment under Policy ARCH5. The policy recognises the opportunity to deliver new homes, restore the site's heritage assets and bring the vacant campus back into active use. It also specifically supports an element of student accommodation as a means of helping to unlock the wider redevelopment.

An urgent need to act

The site has remained vacant since 2013 and has been included on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register since 2016. As the condition of the historic buildings continues to decline, there is a clear need to secure a viable and sustainable future for the site. The proposals would restore and repurpose these important heritage assets, bringing them back into meaningful use while safeguarding them for future generations.

Significant public benefits

The proposals would deliver a residential-led mixed-use development that provides 167 new homes, including 39 Social Rent homes, alongside 242 purpose-built student homes on a highly sustainable brownfield site close to Archway Town Centre. The scheme would also restore heritage assets currently at risk, create new public spaces and pedestrian connections, enhance biodiversity, and deliver a high-quality, low-carbon development.

These benefits would help unlock the regeneration of a long-vacant site, provide much-needed housing, improve connectivity and public realm, and secure the long-term future of some of Archway's most important historic buildings.

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THE STORY SO FAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

Consultation on revised proposals begins.

A new round of consultation has commenced, providing an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to review the revised proposals and supporting information before a final decision is made.

NEXT STEP: Mayoral public hearing & decision.

Following consultation, the Mayor of London will consider the application through the Mayoral planning process before issuing a final decision.

SEPTEMBER 2026

Revised proposals submitted.

Updated plans and supporting technical documents were submitted, including revisions to housing numbers, affordable housing, transport, sustainability, viability and heritage matters.

2025 - 2026

Ongoing technical review & engagement.

The project team worked closely with the GLA, TfL and Islington Council officers to respond to feedback and further develop the proposals.

MARCH 2025

Application called in by the Mayor of London.

The Mayor of London exercised his planning powers and called in the application for his own determination. Responsibility for deciding the application transferred from Islington Council to the GLA.

MARCH 2025

Islington Council resolves to refuse.

Islington Council's Planning Committee resolved to refuse planning permission for the application.

DECEMBER 2024

Mayor's Stage 1 report issued.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) published the Mayor's Stage 1 report, providing an initial assessment of the proposals and identifying matters for further consideration.

SEPTEMBER 2024

Application submitted & validated.

Islington Council validated the planning application, formally commencing the planning and consultation process.

AUGUST 2024

Planning application submitted to the London Borough of Islington for the development of the site.

Proposals were to deliver 178 new homes, including 91 (51%) affordable homes, alongside 242 student bedrooms, a community café and publicly accessible spaces across the site.

JUNE, 2023

5th June - Presentation and workshop with local neighbours to follow-up on key concerns raised at our February workshop.

6th June - Public exhibition to share our updated proposals with the wider community.

TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY, 2023

Afternoon - Workshop event with local residents, business groups and other interested parties to show and discuss our developed designs so far.

Evening - Presentation and workshop with local neighbours to discuss key local issues with those in closest proximity to the site.

WEDNESDAY 6TH JULY, 2022

Initial workshop event with local neighbours to introduce the project team and our proposals for the site.

JULY, 2021

SevenCapital acquires Archway Campus.

Since acquisition, SevenCapital have

been in ongoing discussions with London Borough of Islington.