Plans for a multi-storey office block opposite disabled housing near Old Street station are set to be decided tomorrow.

Islington Council’s planning committee is set to discuss proposals to replace Fitzroy House and Castle House with a nine-storey building tomorrow (October 12).

It comes after the decision date was delayed in July, after the council received a legal letter highlighting issues under the Disability Discrimination Act in relation to the proposed scheme.

Islington Gazette reported in December last year that disabled residents in a block of flats close to the proposed construction site had objected to the plans.

Tenants at 10 Epworth Street fear that the development by Lion Portfolio, which would stand at 29m high and be just 10m from the block, would block daylight to their flats.

They were also concerned about the impact on their health from noise and dust created by demolishing the two existing three and four-storey office blocks at the site.

On July 18, Islington councillor and planning committee chair Martin Klute said any impact on the protected characteristics of the disabled tenants at 10 Epworth Street still needed to be “properly explored”.

The committee also raised “fairly significant concerns” about the lack of a whole life carbon assessment for the building as well as the amount of daylight affordable workspace in the scheme would receive.

Cllr Klute said that these issues could potentially impact the design of the development, which includes a double basement.

But sustainability officers for Greater London Authority have since found “no fundamental issues” with the whole life carbon assessment, according to a reports pack submitted ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.

The proposed affordable workspace unit was also found to be in accordance with planning guidelines.

Officers also claimed that any reductions in daylight from the scheme would not “disproportionately disadvantage” residents of 10 Epworth Street.

Their report ultimately recommends that planning permission be granted.

It is understood that a number of residents at 10 Epworth Street plan to speak in objection to the proposals at the planning meeting tomorrow evening.

Responding to the concerns raised to this paper in July by disabled residents of the block, Daniel Hall, the development’s project director, said: “We will add 10 Epworth Street to the sensitive receptor list and will be focussing on minimising impact to the residents throughout the build process.

“We will be as open and transparent as possible with that process and will also monitor and co-operate with the contractors on the active construction site opposite 10 Epworth Street.”