As gentrification continues to sweep London, another of the city’s artist studio spaces is facing redevelopment. There are plans to demolish the Cockpit Arts building in Camden, north London, although the local council intends to relocate all artists and designers to a new building on the same site. “Camden is anxious not to lose them as they are big local employers,” says Michael Pountney, the vice-chairman of the Holborn Library Users Group.
The redevelopment is part of a proposed overhaul of Holborn Library, one of the earliest Modernist public libraries in the UK, which backs onto the cul-de-sac where the Cockpit Arts building is located. The redevelopment plan, which includes more than 100 new homes, will reduce the archive collection at Holborn Library. Some of the archive is to be stored in an off-site climate controlled facility.
The councillor Abdul Hai says there is “a huge opportunity to continue to provide an excellent archives service”. Meanwhile, the space that will be freed up will provide “much-needed affordable homes and raise £3.75m for the public purse”, he says.
Vanessa Swann, the chief executive of Cockpit Arts, confirms the non-profit organisation “will be reprovided for in new bespoke premises on site”. But she says the proposed new building “is not as good as the one we have at present”, adding that the organisation is in negotiation with the council. The scheme is still at the proposal stage and is subject to public consultation and planning approval.
According to a spokesman for Camden Council, the original building “will we be replaced by a new purpose-built development which will include new like-for-like floor space for the creative business incubator workspace, a new depot, and a mix of private and social rented homes on site”.
However, Pountney says there is “considerable concern” among artists working at Cockpit Arts about their future. “It seems likely they would have to move twice during the scheme, which would be very tough, especially for people with heavy machinery, and their final destination is likely to be in the basement of the new building, which wouldn’t be ideal,” he says.