Campaigners, including architectural historian Dan Cruickshank and hundreds of local people, are celebrating as members of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Development Committee last night decided not to endorse the advice of council officers and instead rejected the controversial bid by developer British Land to develop 320,000 sq ft of high end office, residential and retail accommodation in the historic Norton Folgate area between Shoreditch and Spitalfields, close to the City of London. The plan, which was supported by the Corporation of the City of London and which was not opposed by Historic England, would have seen over 70% of the historic fabric of 18th to early 20th century buildings in a Conservation Area replaced by modern office spaces, many several stories higher than the current buildings, only the facades of which would be retained in most cases.
Describing the decision a spokesperson for Tower Hamlets told the newspaper City AM
“British Land’s proposal would, if given planning permission, create a terrifying precedent undermining all historic quarters throughout the country.”
http://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/04/13/dan-cruickshanks-tales-of-norton-folgate/
After the vote Mr Cruikshank told the Architects Journal
“This is a victory for local democracy – and for common sense. No members of the planning committee supported the scheme and British Land should now listen to the people of Tower Hamlets [and] redesign a scheme that was last night condemned as too greedy and too destructive.”
In further comments Mr Cruickshank described how the Spitalfields Trust had tried to work with British Land but the Trust had found its
“…observations, criticism and advice constantly ignored”
As a result they had come up with an alternative plan which
“…demonstrates how the Blossom Street site could be developed – but in a far more modest manner that respects existing scale and the fabric and character of the conservation area. The Spitalfields Trust would be more than happy to work again with British Land if it learns from last night and commits itself to the production of a more sympathetic scheme for Norton Folgate.’
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/campaigners-win-battle-to-stop-british-lands-norton-folgate-plans/8686562.article?blocktitle=Big-pic&contentID=11152
It remains to be seen whether British Land will indeed learn from last night’s experience, or if it will instead opt to utilise its deep pockets and friends in high political places, including No 11 Downing Street, to attempt to push through the deeply unpopular scheme regardless.
