LONDON BOROUGHS: Islington

• Islington is the most densely populated of London boroughs, with a population of 220,544. It has an average of 139 persons per hectare, compared with the London average of 52.
   

• It is mainly residential, extending from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around Upper Street, Essex Road and Southgate Road to the east. Angel is Islington’s hub, with Pentonville Road the artery to the famous West End and City Road the artery to the increasingly infamous City.

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• Islington has managed to make itself appealing to families, students, young City professionals and young tech professionals alike. Central Islington has always been popular for its traditional housing and cafe culture,
   

• Recently added to its allure of affluence is an increase in local employment opportunities. Silicon Roundabout, or Tech City, is a technology cluster located around the Old Street roundabout including the southeast corner of Islington. It has benefited from local and national government incentives with the aim of producing a cluster of tech businesses and start-ups and foreign companies looking to set up in the UK. Around 5,000 tech companies are now located in the wider area around the Old Street roundabout.

• Islington’s population rose 25% between 2011 and 2014, contributing to a house price growth of 113% over the last decade and exacerbating the housing situation. The borough council plans to deliver a minimum of 12,641 homes between 2015 and 2025, or 1,264 homes per annum. There are currently 1,500 units under construction, and a further 2,300 units with planning permission. Many of these schemes are located in the popular City Road corridor between the Old Street roundabout and Angel tube station, and the canal basin area.
   

• A recent, and currently one of the largest and tallest schemes in Islington, is 250 City Road. It has 930 residential units, with amenities such as secure bicycle parking for every unit and free wifi in common areas -- the better to appeal to young tech professionals lured to Silicon Roundabout.

source: London living: A borough by borough showcase by CBRE

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