A CONTROVERSIAL plan to redevelop a shopping centre in Seven Sisters was rejected by councillors last night.

More than 200 people sat through a mammoth five-hour meeting at Haringey Civic Centre before the planning committee voted 5-4 against the Ward's Corner plan, having heard pleas from campaigners.

The scheme, by development firm Grainger, to redevelop the historic buildings in High Road to provide new business premises and homes, has been criticised by traders and residents who have campaigned against it.

The site is currently home to Seven Sisters Market, which includes many independent shops and Columbian businesses under the name Pueblito Paisa, who celebrated the result.

Raúl Mancera, president of Pueblito Paisa, said: “Wards Corner provides services for many cultures, and clients come from many parts of the country to get products and services they cannot get anywhere else and they leave their money in Haringey.

“Wards Corner and the market sustains directly about 500 families, most of whom live in Haringey. In addition, many people trade or work part-time with us.”

The development brief was handed to Grainger in 2004 by Haringey Council, and original plans were signed off in 2008.

However, planning permission was quashed in June last year following uproar from residents who took the case to the Court of Appeal.

Grainger refreshed the proposals, but opponents still said they “would wreak damage upon a thriving community, and seem certain to blight the area for years”.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Schmitz said now the project was rejected the council should work on regenerating the existing buildings.

The Harringay ward councillor said: “I am delighted to have been a part of the successful campaign to stop a development which would have destroyed a fine building, as well as many family businesses, for no benefit to anyone except the developers.

“Together, we can make these assets the centrepiece for a true regeneration in which we can all participate and of which we can all be proud.”