Save Our Skyline Ask: What Does Withdrawal Actually Mean?
"Urgent need to know precisely what has been decided" - Vanessa Redgrave
Campaign group Save Our Skyline are awaiting clarification from Hammersmith and Fulham Council over their decision to withdraw plans for the redevelopment of King Street.
The campaigners held a protest at City Hall on the morning of Wednesday 14 December to call on the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson to use his planning powers to block the scheme.
Joined by actress Vanessa Redgrave, the demonstrators were assured by Deputy Mayor for Planning, Sir Edward Lister, that their demands would be placed before the mayor later in the day.
Following the protest, Save Our Skyline understand that "The Council has withdrawn the stage two referral concerning the application". However here is much speculation regarding what this actually means.
Vanessa Redgrave says: " There's an urgent and basic right and need to know precisely what has been decided by Hammersmith & Fulham Council since the Deputy Mayor of London met with a delegation of borough residents in front of City Hall yesterday morning.
"Sir Edward Lister listened attentively; a courtesy and responsibility which the Council do not appear to give to their borough residents."
On Friday morning, the council has yet to make a comment. We will bring you their reaction as soon as we receive it.
News of Hammersmith and Fulham Council's change of mind came yesterday in a message sent 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Hammersmith & Fulham Council has withdrawn the stage II referral until further notice.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The report says that Hammersmith & Fulham council has withdrawn a planning application for a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
December 15, 2011
