Highgate councillors and Lib Dem London Assembly member Lynne Featherstone has welcomed the agreement by Tubelines to erect scaffolding with tarpaulins at the site of the controversial proposed Northern Line Tube control centre next to Highgate Wood.

The move follows pressure from local councillors and residents, so that they can see the visual impact of the new building on the sensitive site.

Lynne Featherstone and Bob Hare are continuing to press Tubelines to achieve a lowering of the building and other environmental mitigation which will reduce its visual impact. They say that the erection of the scaffolding will give residents a real feel for the impact of the scheme.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“I am pleased that Tubelines have agreed to this, as it is a very useful way of assessing the impact of a new building on such a sensitive site. It will make the scale of it visible to local people and I hope they will listen to the response of local residents.”

Lynne Featherstone adds:

“We will be looking closely at the impact of the scheme. There is certainly a need for the building to be lowered, and I think that the erection of scaffolding will inform the debate about this. It is a very sensitive site on the edge of the woods, not just because of its visible impact for nearby residents, but because of the existing wildlife in the area, which is largely undisturbed at present.”