Hammersmith and Fulham Council Withdraws King Street Plans
Change of mind said to be due to "mass opposition"
Hammersmith and Fulham Council have withdrawn plans to redevelop King Street due to opposition from local people, according to a message sent to the campaign group Save Our Skyline by the GLA.
The message said: "
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has withdrawn the stage II referral until further notice. It means that the Mayor is not required to take a decision at this time. The application is still live and therefore it may be referred back to the Mayor at a future date. This will be at the Council's discretion."
The council's surprise change of mind has also been reported in the trade publication Estates Gazette.
The report says that Hammersmith & Fulham council has withdrawn a planning application for a
£110m town hall redevelopment by Grainger and Helical, in the face of mass
opposition.
According to Estates Gazette, the council decided to withdraw the application on the same evening as Mayor
of London Boris Johnson was due to announce whether he would let the scheme
go ahead.
Plans for 290 homes, shops, restaurants and a new public square could now be
jeopardised, just 14 days after the council approved them.
Campaign group Save our Skyline fiercely opposed the scheme, and yesterday
around 100 protestors staged a demonstration outside City Hall ahead of
Johnson's decision.
Prior to the council's withdrawal, Grainger development director David
Walters, speaking on behalf of the joint venture vehicle with Helical Bar,
King Street Developments, said: "The opposition is well organised and vocal,
but they do not represent everyone and much of their campaign is based on
the misrepresentation of the proposals.
" Our own consultation with the
community demonstrated a very high level of public support for the scheme."
He added: "After very careful consideration, councillors on Hammersmith and
Fulham's planning committee decided in favour of our plans and their
decision should be respected and upheld."
The news represents a huge victory for Save Our Skyline, a group of local campaigners who have fought a long battle against the scheme, which would see the town hall extension demolished and the construction of a new public square, 290 new flats and a supermarket on the site of the Cineworld Cinema. It would also mean the demolition of buildings owned by the Pocklington Trust, providing homes for visually impaired people
As well as representing 20 local groups and organisations, Save Our Skyline had a number of celebrity supporters including actress Vanessa Redgrave, who attended yesterday's rally at City Hall.
We have asked Hammersmith and Fulham Council to comment on this story, and will bring you their reaction as soon as we receive it.
December 15, 2011
