George Nicholson and affordable housing in Fitzrovia

George Nicholson, who died aged 79 on 1 February this year, was instrumental in delivering affordable housing in Fitzrovia in the 1980s.

He was was chair of the Greater London Council (GLC) planning committee before its abolition in 1986, where he initiated the Community Areas policy of which Fitzrovia was one of the target neighbourhoods. He worked closely with Drew Stevenson, chief strategic officer, and former resident of Great Titchfield Street.

The above photo shows George Nicholson on the site in Goodge Place and Tottenham Street in May 1985 where some of those homes were built. The site had been houses until the Middlesex Hospital bought them and demolished the lot in 1971 to create a car park as part of their later abandoned plans for an expanded hospital.

In a GLC press release from 16 May 1985, George Nicholson said: “Fitzrovia is a perfect example of the way the GLC works to put the community areas policy into action. Few people realise that the heart of London suffers the same inner-city problems of a loss of local jobs, poor housing, and inadequate community facilities.”

He continued: “Mrs Thatcher may have described London as a series of villages but without the resources and will of a strategic authority like the GLC these local communities will not survive. A firm commitment and cash is needed to turn these ideas into reality.”

He was announcing the allocation of a further £5mn to be spent in 16 designated community areas. Funding began in the 1982/3 financial year.

Nicholson was also a leading light in CHICL, the Campaign for Homes in Central London, which lobbied for more affordable housing in central London Communities.

CHICL was formed in 1978 and brought together many community representatives from areas later designated for funding under the GLC Community Areas policy.

Nick Bailey of the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum remembers Nicholson and his work with the GLC and CHICL.

“Fitzrovia in the 1970s and 80s had many of the attributes of an inner city area and the Greater London Council’s Community Areas Policy brought new hope that a limited amount of funding could achieve great results. Cllr George Nicholson provided the dynamic leadership that ensured that the money was spent wisely and efficiently on local priorities after full public consultation,” he said.

Nicholson is also remembered for his achievements in Southwark where he was involved in the Coin Street campaign and transforming Borough Market.

Born in London he went on to join the merchant navy before returning to study at what is now South Bank University. He was elected as a Labour councillor in Southwark in 1978 and then as a GLC councillor in 1981.

There will be a celebration of George’s life at Coin Street Community Centre, 108 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, on 7 June in the afternoon.

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