Coin Street Community Builders' proposals for the site will provide a public swimming and indoor leisure centre, shopping facilities and a towering residential high-rise development right in the centre of the capital.
For opponents of the scheme the whole building, and especially the skyscraper sitting at the heart of the development, will seriously alter London’s historic skyline and surrounding conservation area.
The Secretary of State’s decision to give the go-ahead for the scheme comes despite the recommendations of English Heritage and the planning inspector Philip Wilson who called for the application to build the 43-storey tower and leisure complex to be refused.
“We are appalled to learn that the Secretary of State has not only overturned the advice of English Heritage as her expert advisors, but she has also chosen to ignore the learned opinion of an independent inspector,” said an English Heritage spokesperson.
Following a three-week enquiry that saw English Heritage and Westminster Council oppose the plans, Hazel Blears decided today, Wednesday August 30, that the drawbacks were outweighed by “substantial benefits to the local community."
“English Heritage finds it incomprehensible that her reason for doing so was because she considered that community benefits outweigh harm to the historic environment as though one must be at the sacrifice of the other,” added the spokesperson.
English Heritage opposed the development partly on the grounds that it would ruin London’s most perfect 18th century space, the magnificent courtyard of Somerset House.
They had also argued that the iconic view of Whitehall seen from the bridge over the lake in St James’ Park would be adversely affected and that the tower would overwhelm the Grade II* National Theatre and the setting of the Grade l listed Royal Festival Hall.
It was all of these concerns that in September 2007 caused the Secretary of State to ‘call in' the proposals so she could determine them after a public inquiry.
In her verdict, Hazel Blears acknowledged the 144 metre-high residential tower would harm the settings of the Strand and Roupell Street conservation areas and Somerset House. But she argued the settings of the Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre and the views from St James' Park Footbridge would be preserved – a claim opposed by English Heritage.
“Obviously we do not consider this matter closed and we are considering our next steps and the options open to us,” added the English Heritage spokesperson.
