David Gray has angered residents in London’s Crouch Hill after he announced that he is planning to turn historic recording studio The Church Studios into a block of flats and offices.
The studio, which has hosted sessions by the likes of Bob Dylan, My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, Kaiser Chiefs and Bombay Bicycle Club, is a converted church and was originally owned by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart before he sold it to Gray in 2003.
Local residents have expressed their disgust at the plans, with Sue Hessel, who chairman of Haslemere Road Residents’ Association, telling the Ham & High: “This is so sad. Crouch End has enough flats. Crouch End’s music heritage is what makes it such a special place to live. Turning such a culturally rich building into flats is not in the spirit of Crouch End.”
Gray’s architect, Mark Ruthven, has said that the studios are now “obsolete” and completely out of date, saying: “It is completely obsolete, it doesn’t get used. This is a way of the building being used. The heritage is preserved. The important thing is to find a re-use and that it is done in a sensitive way.”
Gray himself has issued a statement about the plans, with his representative blaming “the current upheaval in the music business” for his decision to try and convert the studios into flats.
The representative said: “Having owned and enjoyed the church for nearly 10 years, it is time to move on. David would be delighted to sell The Church Studios but given the current upheaval in the music business and the repercussions on commercial recording stuios, it is only prudent to explore other avenues, including redevelopment.”
Before Gray can procede with his plans, he will require planning permission from Haringey Council, who will rule on the bid at a later date.
David Gray released his ninth studio album ‘Foundling’ in 2010.