Black Raven Court, a landmark 66-home development delivering 100% social rent housing on the City of London/Islington border, has officially opened.
Delivered by the City of London Corporation in partnership with Islington Council, the scheme provides 33 homes for each authority and will accommodate up to 196 residents.
The development was funded by the City Corporation, with contributions from LB Islington, a grant from the Greater London Authority, and Section 106 funding.
Black Raven Court offers a mix of high-quality, spacious homes, including:
• 35 one-bedroom, two-person flats
• 23 two-bedroom, four-person flats
• 3 two-bedroom, three-person flats
• 5 three-bedroom, five-person duplexes
All 66 homes are finished to a high specification, featuring contemporary kitchens, generous living space and energy-efficient design to ensure comfortable, affordable homes for individuals and families.
Built alongside COLPAI Primary School, the development also includes three commercial units at ground level, creating an active and vibrant frontage.
Black Raven Court is ideally located near Barbican tube station, and the Barbican Centre, Whitecross Street Market and a wide range of shops, schools and healthcare services – making it a well-connected and attractive place to live.
The official opening comes as the City Corporation is investing over £300 million in its housing stock. The funding package is improving the quality, safety and sustainability of its 12 housing estates across the City, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets. Works include upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, lifts, roofs, fire safety and electrical systems, as well as improvements to communal areas.
Alex MacLeod and Rihab Salah were the first two residents to move into the new development.
Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Community & Children’s Services Committee, Helen Fentimen, said:
“Black Raven Court reflects our commitment to delivering genuinely affordable, high-quality homes for Londoners. These modern, spacious homes for social rent will provide stability, security and opportunity for nearly 200 residents, with access to green space and excellent local amenities. By working with our partners, we have created a development we can be proud of – one that not only meets housing need but strengthens the wider community and shows what long-term investment in social housing can achieve.”
Cllr Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, said:
“We believe that our residents deserve a safe, secure, and genuinely affordable places to live – and developments like Black Raven Court are at the heart of that. Every one of these properties represents a new home for families across Islington and the City of London. Building more genuinely affordable homes is a key priority, and this collaboration with City of London Corporation is just one of the ways we’re doing that.”
