Supporters of community use for the former Biritish Legion buliding, including campaign leader Andrew Goldstone, centre. Photo: Tony Gay

Hopes of saving an historic “landmark” from developers to run it as a community hall have been dashed – despite campaigners raising more than half a million pounds

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A group of Crouch End residents, including a yoga teacher, a doctor and a journalist, had planned to buy the Earl Haig Memorial Hall - the former home of the Royal British Legion in the heart of Crouch End - at auction.

They wanted to secure the future of the building for community use and set up a charity to run it. It had been empty since dwindling numbers forced the Legion to close its doors in 2010.

But despite raising “several hundred thousand pounds” in a matter of weeks, the group was outbid at auction on Monday when the building sold for £1,000,500 - despite the fact it languished on the open market for more than a year with an asking price of £750,000.

Campaign leader Andrew Goldstone was surprised by the high price tag, especially as permission for a change of use could be hard to get.

“As a building for community use, it is worth nowhere near that much,” said the Crouch Hall Road resident. “I am amazed somebody paid that amount of money – their hope must be to get planning permission to turn it into homes.

“But Haringey has a clear policy of keeping community buildings as community buildings - particularly if there is local demand for continuing local use.”

And clearly, there is demand - just not the sort of use which the Royal British Legion was offering. Changing demographics means a community centre would have to meet some very different needs.

Fellow campaigner John Anthers, of Elder Avenue, said: “There is a very pleasant communal feeling about living in Crouch End but as it’s got bigger there has been an influx of families with small kids and they do have certain demands for community space.”

Crouch End Players’ founder Mat Hearne, 32, also hopes the building wil remain for the community.

He said: “The biggest challenge we face in Crouch End is venues.”

Hornsey YMCA also expressed interest in the project - telling Mr Goldstone it would be a “major customer”.

But the group have not given up hope that the community could use it.

Mr Goldstone said: “I am hoping we can work with this person. They might be prepared to lease it to us. It is what I believe the people of Crouch End want.”