University plans to demolish a row of Victorian buildings in central London are put on hold as Secretary of State for communities and local government Greg Clark MP issued Westminster Council with a holding direction that suspends planning permission for Kings College’s plans while ministers consider whether to call in the application for public inquiry.
SAVE writes:
SAVE welcomes this decision that follows our request to him on May 11. We originally wrote to Eric Pickles MP, then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 23rd April, asking him to call in the application for public inquiry. We repeated our request to his successor, Greg Clark MP, highlighting the storm of public outrage and national press attention that has developed since our original letter, as well as the changing stance of Historic England.
In our letter we explain why the application should be called in for public inquiry. We write:
‘Most pointedly, there is a conflict with national policy on the protection of heritage assets. These buildings make up the background of listed buildings in a historically important part of London, visited by many thousands of visitors on a daily basis. As part of one of London’s most historic thoroughfares, the buildings are of national significance. The conclusions drawn by Historic England could have negative repercussions on a national scale if not challenged. In addition the proposed new design for the replacement building is of extremely low quality.’
Our request for a public inquiry has been supported and endorsed by a group of Westminster Councillors, who have also written to Greg Clark. Councillor David Boothroyd, the only member to vote against the proposals said:
‘The new Secretary of State should call-in this proposal given the significant change in Historic England’s comments and the huge national interest. The current proposals would not only mean a loss of this lovely terrace of historic buildings, but would be a repeat of the mistakes made in the 1970s when King’s College was allowed to build a Brutalist development which was totally unsympathetic with The Strand and nearby Somerset House.’
We have also written to those who have signed our petition, that has gathered almost 8,500 signatures in just over two weeks, asking them to write to Greg Clark MP, requesting that this application be called in for a public inquiry.
