The Archway Tower, at 2 Junction Road, Archway, London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, is a 195 feet (59 m) office building built over Archway tube station

Archway tube station

Archway tube station is a London Underground station in north London, underneath the Archway Tower, at the intersection of Holloway Road, Highgate Hill and Junction Road in the area known as Archway....

 and was completed in 1963. Local opinion is divided on the tower, some finding it architecturally unattractive, while others welcome the fact that it brings employment to the area, as well as office workers who patronize small local businesses.

Islington London Borough Council

Islington London Borough Council

Islington London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Islington in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Islington is divided into 16 wards, each electing three councillors...

 are carrying out a consultation to decide on the future of the tower and surrounding roundabout and shopping mall, with the contract for redevelopment being handed to Britain's largest architectural practice, BDP. In 2005, Building Design

Building Design

Building Design is one of the leading architectural magazines in the United Kingdom.According to ABC , the magazine's circulation for the year ending June 2008 was 22,848. The publishing company is UBM Built Environment, a division of United Business Media, which also publishes Building and...

magazine carried an article describing how Islington residents were accusing the council and BDP of forcing through plans for a supermarket on the site despite widespread opposition among local people. The architectural practice is accused of scheduling meetings at inconvenient times and failing to publicise consultations. BDP denied the charges.

Formerly the property of UK government, it was sold off and rented back on a 42-year lease, destined to expire in 2009. In October 2007, the tower was sold by Wichford plc to Scarborough Property Group. As a result, the Saturday farmer's market was moved onto Holloway Road

Holloway Road

Holloway Road is a road in London. It is one of the main shopping streets in North London, and carries the A1 road as it passes through Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington...

.

The building, supposedly then used for Social Security, inspired the song Archway Towers by New Model Army

New Model Army (band)

New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...

. Topper's House in Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby is an English novelist, essayist and screenwriter. He is best known for the novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, and for the football memoir Fever Pitch. His work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists.-Life and career:Hornby was...

's 2005 novel A Long Way Down

A Long Way Down

A Long Way Down is a novel written by British author Nick Hornby, published in 2005. It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity....

is said to have been indirectly inspired by Archway Tower, but also by the eponymous Archway over Archway Road.

The building is currently home to the Court of Protection

Court of Protection

The Court of Protection in English law is a superior court of record created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It has jurisdiction over the property, financial affairs and personal welfare of people who lack mental capacity to make decisions for themselves...

 which is a superior court of record

Court of record

In common law jurisdictions, a court of record is a judicial tribunal having attributes and exercising functions independently of the person of the magistrate designated generally to hold it, and proceeding according to the course of common law, its acts and proceedings being enrolled for a...

 established further to section 45 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005

Mental Capacity Act 2005

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its primary purpose is to provide a legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of adults who lack the capacity to make particular decisions for themselves....

 and also to part of the office of the Public Guardian

Office of the Public Guardian

The Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland, is a public body based in Falkirk as part of the Scottish Court Service, established in April 2001 following the passing of the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000.-History:...

.