Our staff and guests, Maureen Stables, the chair of CDS Co-operatives, and Lord Graham of Edmonton, our honorary life president, went there to see Councillor Chris Naylor from Camden Council cut the ribbon on the state-of-the-art development.

The scheme consists of 22 new homes and 19 refurbished street properties. It won the ‘new dwellings’ category of the 2007 Camden Building Quality awards for its excellent green credentials and level of resident consultation, and has been entered for this year’s Civic Trust awards.

Cllr Naylor was extremely impressed by how closely the former residents have been involved – and how many have chosen to come back to their new flats.

‘It makes a nice change from having been in an old Victorian street property for 22 years,’ says Jennifer Palmer, one of the tenants, who moved back in a year ago. ‘I am really beginning to appreciate my new home. It’s nice to have an outdoor space and the energy-efficient building means there has been a huge reduction in my bills. It’s great!’

CDS chair Maureen Stables says, ‘We have been delighted with the constructive and positive working relationship we enjoyed with Camden Council on this project. We trust that this scheme will continue to provide a high-quality affordable mixed housing community for its residents.’