Isleden House New Development

The old...

Isleden House is made up of general needs and sheltered housing. The estate was built in 1948 by the Trustees of the London Parochial Charities, as an ‘experiment in housing for the aged’ and opened by Queen Mary in 1949. In 1953, Trustees conveyed the property to the City of London.

The estate is centred around a quiet, private courtyard and gardens. It comprises 76 flats, 33 of which are sheltered accommodation for people of state retirement age. Built in the years following World War II, the flats were designed with spatial efficiency in mind, with build in storage and even a fold-away ironing board. Each flat came equipped with in built radio and speakers, which residents could tune into to hear music and estate-wide broadcasts. Some of these radio controllers and speakers remain in the flats to this day. Outside each flat are mini coal sheds, as the original tenants had a weekly supply of coal delivered, included in their rent.

...and the new

The project provides three new three bed flats, increasing the number of residential dwellings at Isleden House to 80. Two of the flats will be allocated to City of London Corporation tenants on the waiting list, and the third flat will be allocated to Islington Council. The development also provides a new communal workshop on first floor and a re-provided communal tenant storage area.

The development infills the northern end of Isleden House, replacing three non-habitable storage rooms that previously occupied the space. Planning consent was granted in 2020 and construction works started in February 2021.

The new homes have been designed to achieve a 19% reduction in regulated CO2 emissions compared to compliance with the Building Regulations 2015. The building fabric has been designed to accommodate high performing triple glazed aluminium windows, thick insulation has been utilised and a low air permeability. Each dwelling is ventilated through a mechanically ventilated heat recovery unit to limit heat loss in the winter months.

An opening ceremony at Isleden House was held on the 6 June 2023 for the development of three new three bed flats. The flats were officially opened by the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Children’s and Community Services Committee, Ruby Syed and Helen Fentimen, pictured below with the new Executive Director of Children’s and Community Services at the City of London, Judith Finlay