SAVE have issued a statement welcoming a holding direction that suspends planning permission for Kings College’s plans while ministers consider whether to call in the application for public inquiry, and Historic England’s change of position on its assessment of the harm the proposed works might cause, which is now considered to be ‘substantial’.
SAVE writes:
SAVE welcomes Historic England’s reviewed stance on the Strand: they now conclude that King’s College’s proposals to demolish four buildings and retain only the façade of a fifth causes substantial harm to the conservation area. This renders null and void their original letter that supported the scheme and would have been key to the decision that was made by Westminster Council when it approved the demolition and development scheme in April.
The revised position follows almost a month of public outcry reflected in the numerous articles, letters and leaders in The Times, the Evening Standard and other media. SAVE’s petition addressed to the Principal of King’s College and the head of its estates committee, gathered 9,000 signatures in 3 weeks and is still growing. Latest supporters of the campaign include Michael Palin who said in a statement to SAVE this week: ‘I’m against the destruction of these properties and the proposed replacement.’
Historic England wrote today in a letter to The Times, that is supported by an online statement: ‘As we originally said, the loss of the buildings would damage a historically important part of London, which is clearly cherished by all those who have spoken up. We stand by this view, but have further tested the harm against Planning Practice Guidance and our review has found that the degree of harm would be substantial. This group of buildings is integral to the character and appearance of the wider conservation area.
‘It is for Westminster City Council or, should the case be called in, for the Secretary of State, to weigh up the public benefit of the proposals. But we would like to acknowledge the high level of public interest in this case, and look forward to the best outcome for the Strand and the conservation area.’
This change of position from Historic England redoubles the case for public inquiry. SAVE is appealing once again to the Secretary of State Greg Clark MP to call the case in. Historic England had originally weighed up the public benefits of the scheme themselves, but now make it clear that that is the role of the planning authority or the Secretary of State.
In the light of this changed position SAVE calls on King’s College London to revise its position.
We thank all our supporters who have written to Greg Clark MP requesting a call in and urge those who have not yet done so, to write to him.
SAVE’s grounds for requesting a public inquiry can be found in our previous press release
