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I thoroughly enjoyed this article, which explains the why (financial/business case) as much as the how.
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The proposed demolition of the M&S building in Oxford Street has been given the go-ahead pending a possible appeal by Gove.
I expected that his decision wouldn't stand, as I always thought the reasons given for objecting were disingenuous; I'm sure people mainly objected because the new proposals are so bad and ugly. The old building isn't exactly eye candy but represents a style period that feels characteristic of that area. The environmental claims that have been made I'm sure are all true and good, but it always felt to me like a desperate last-ditch dash to the last policies standing on which one might build a case. Unfortunately, the planning system has been eviscerated in the last twenty years (and it wasn't good before then), and it looks as if that will continue under the incoming administration.
I've seen much flimsier justifications for decisions by the Secretary of State that overruled the Planning Inspectorate, but none of those were challenged in court, I think.
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Here's another major application that should be rejected, not primarily because of the damage done to Bevis Marks Synagogue, but because overpowering schemes on large footprints have already done immense damage to the City. It's obviously like playing King Canute to even hope for a stop to them.
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Another massive City application, from a couple of weeks ago:
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Anyway, last one for tonight, although this is from a couple of weeks ago.
I certainly won't cry any tears for the old ITV tower, but it's just baffling why they want a scheme with such a low design quality there. It looks like some forgettable housing block outside a small city rather than something for such an important site in Central London.
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Plans for waterloo seem quite nice and more cycle friendly. Expect the car lobby to go a bit Clarkson on this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68533941 -
One of the few good things happening in London is the move by the Museum of London to West Smithfield. Unfortunately, this is probably enabled by plans for a very large tower block on the old site:
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Tower blocks in so many places:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tesco-towers-harrow-housing-development-b1149503.html
Anyone who has seen the areas where this style of development has already gone up (e.g., North Acton) knows how awful it is.
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I haven't posted anything about the dozens of major tower blocks planned all over, as frankly they're all the same and will probably get waved through, anyway. The exceptions are the Liverpool Street Station nonsense and this.
This one's more interesting because of the heritage context of Bevis Marks Synagogue. Note that the Secretary of State's action in calling it in doesn't really mean anything. The local planning authority can still grant planning permission at its planned hearing, it just means that it can't issue a decision notice to the applicants. It's not clear what will happen further in the process. It could go to a public inquiry that determines the application, which would probably accelerate the process, as there would have been a public inquiry in any case.
platypus
wildwest
mattyc-
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Town planning in London, planning proposals and applications, and planning decisions
Posted by
@Oliver Schick
Looks like Oxford street changes are going ahead. I kind of wished something more bold was happening especially given the £90million cost.