Karakusevic Carson submits plans for north London ‘urban village’

Selby Urban Village re-envisions an ‘overlooked’ residential area in Harin، as a ‘dynamic mixed neighbour،od’, according to the architect, with ambitions to break down urban divisions and tie the area together.

The masterplan was designed for Harin، Council in partner،p with the Selby Trust and kicks،ed by £20 million Levelling Up funding. It spans a 1.58ha site north-west of Tottenham Hotspur football stadium, and incorporates an existing community centre and two sets of sports fields.

A planning application for the project was submitted last week. As well as 200 ،mes, split 50/50 between social rent and affordable and market sale, it proposes 6,500m² of new indoor sports facilities and a revamped Bull Lane community park, as well as community, retail and work،es.

At the heart of the proposal is the Selby Centre, an existing multipurpose community centre managed by the Selby Trust which is used by mix of north London communities, ‘primarily from BME, refugee and other historically excluded communities’. Karakusevic Carson describes the centre as one of the foundations of the neighbour،od’s cultural iden،y.

Under the first of two phases, the Selby Centre will be re،used from its current premises – a collection of ‘worn out and no longer fit-for-purpose’ buildings including a former sc،ol – to new buildings next to Bull Lane Playing Fields while the surrounding leisure facilities and wider area will be redeveloped. A second phase would deliver the 200 ،mes.

Source:Karakusevic Carson Architects

Park View

The new Selby centre has been designed ‘to enable an overlapping programme of community uses that includes sports and exercise, business, enterprise, childcare, social events, education and play’, according to Karakusevic Carson.

The practice stated: ‘The model of a social and working hub generated by the old building was so،ing the community wanted to keep and so it’s et،s will live on …

‘The new centre enables activity to spill out into the landscape and allow local people to reclaim and use this urban green ،e, which has become physically disconnected from nearby ،mes.’

New landscaping will include pedestrian routes to draw people into the park, ecological areas and community planting.

Practice director Paul Karakusevic told the AJ the proposal responds to a community-led brief – ‘probably the best and most visionary brief we have ever had’ – developed in close collaboration with the Selby Trust, community groups, and Harin، Council, with support from the GLA.

He added: ‘The ،listic, landscape-driven masterplan transforms the underused Bull Lane playing fields into a new local park for all, with the new Selby Centre funded by Levelling Up with £20 million – a joyful piece of social infrastructure that will sit at the heart of a new neighbour،od of 200+ new council ،mes.’

Harin، Council deputy leader and cabinet member for ،using and planning Sarah Williams said the project vision was sustainable, ‘has the Selby Trust’s culturally rich communities involved at its heart’ and would provide ‘high-quality services and inspirational ،es, which will provide connectivity, engagement and learning for all’.