Islington Square is the transformation of the former North London Mail centre, just off Upper Street, into a £400m (€570.6m) destination in London. The development will be unveiled on 3 December 2015.
Islington Square will create a new destination, combining restored Edwardian buildings with new-build elements. The scheme, developed by Sager Group in association with Cain Hoy, will provide 263 homes, serviced apartments, new retail outlets, restaurants, and leisure facilities – all centred around a new public boulevard. Sager group acquired the final parcel of land for the development in May 2014.
The Royal Mail traces its history back to 1516, when Henry VIII established a 'Master of Posts', a position that was renamed 'Post Master General' in 1710. In 1839, the first substantial reform took place, when postage rates were revised and delivery within Great Britain and Ireland was given a fixed rate in the form of a stamp. By the late 19th Century, there were between six and twelve mail deliveries per day in London. With growing demand, the Post Master General ordered the erection of a number of sorting and delivery centres throughout London and the South East. The North London Royal Mail sorting and delivery centre was opened in 1906.
With modernisation, the space requirement shrunk and machinery changed, such that the Royal Mail has now moved from the site and into its new state of the art residences on Eagle Wharf Road, near the Regents Canal. With vacant possession in September 2015, a new chapter for the site has now begun.
Giris Rabinovitch, CEO of Sager Group commented, “Islington Square is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a new destination for London. It sits in the heart of Islington, which is steeped in history and culture. The site, which is the former North London Royal Mail sorting and delivery centre, would have been the apex for all communication in and out of North London.
“The team at Sager Group and our partners are extremely excited about bringing this scheme forward. The 500,000ft² (46,450m²) site will be opened up to the public for the first time, with the new and existing buildings centred around a public boulevard; it will be a place for Londoners to live, work and play.”
Granted planning permission in 2007 and 2012, the mixed use site will be located in the four buildings that make up the new project, including 8 Esther Anne Place – the principal Edwardian building; 11 Esther Anne Place – an entirely new build scheme; 17 Esther Anne Place – with its retained Edwardian facade and new basement and upper floors, and two residential units in the former Mitre Public House. The Edwardian buildings were originally designed by architect Jasper Wager. The last time an Edwardian warehouse conversion scheme of this scale was undertaken in London was in the 1990s with the creation of Harrods Village in Barnes.
Giris Rabinovitch, CEO of Sager Group added, “From Upper Street there will be two arcades leading to the public square, one of which will run through the central arches in the former general post office counter building on Upper Street and the other, next to The Mitre.”
Residents will benefit from access to landscaped external gardens, in addition to separate private gardens and terraces to some apartments. Penthouse apartments will have access to roof terrace space, which will provide residents with views around London.
