City Matters 164

CITYMATTERS.LONDON April 17 - May 21 2024 | Page 3
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City to recommend plans to replace
Museum of London with office blocks
THE CITY of London has indicated it will
recommend approving the controversial
London Wall West scheme – days before
the public consultation is due to end, writes
Local Democracy Reporter Ben Lynch.
The Corporation issued a letter on April 2 to
‘contributors’ to the proposed redevelopment
project in which it states it will advise
the plans be given the green light, despite
the consultation due to run until April 6.
Campaigners have called on members
to “reject the application for what it is: unfit
for purpose, unworkable, damaging to the
City’s reputation and, most alarming of all,
injurious to the future of people and the
planet”.
A City of London spokesperson said a
formal recommendation will not be made
until a week prior to the planning committee
meeting on April 17, at which members will
be able to decide for themselves whether
to approve or refuse the proposal.
The City is looking to demolish both the
Museum of London and Bastion House,
a 1970s Brutalist office block on the edge
of the Barbican estate, and replace them
with three new buildings between five and
17-storeys tall. A number of public realm
improvements are also to be delivered.
Planning documents detail how the
redevelopment will be less carbon-intensive
over the long-term than retaining the
current buildings, which it says are unwelcoming
and unused. These claims have,
however, been contested by campaigners
against the scheme, who are pushing for
a retrofit and reuse approach and for the
existing buildings to be put to ‘cultural,
creative and educational/learning use’.
Since the proposal went live on the City’s
planning portal, which is both applicant
and local authority, hundreds of objections
have been filed, with the potential redevelopment
described as ‘shameful’ and
‘ill-considered’.
Technical difficulties meant the public
consultation’s initial end-date of early
February was extended to April 6. However,
despite it still running at the time of writing,
the Local Democracy Reporting Service
(LDRS) has seen correspondence from
the City dated April 2 in which it states its
Chief Planning Officer will recommend
the scheme be approved. A decision is due
to be made at the Planning Applications
Sub-Committee meeting on April 17.
A spokesperson for the Barbican Quarter
Action (BQA) group, which was formed to
fight for ‘responsible’ planning in the City,
said: “The story of London Wall West highlights
serious concerns about the custodianship
of the built environment in the City
as well as a flawed planning consultation
process. It throws light on a system of
governance that appears to play with due
process and ignores significant factors
other than financial gain.
“The City of London’s conduct since
the inception of its plans for a mammoth
office development, on a site of immense
heritage significance at London Wall West
and a core part of the Barbican Estate,
reveals a story of questionable governance,
flawed processes, financial incoherence,
cultural vandalism and most notably disregard
for its own policies for urgent climate
action.”
They added the City has dumped ‘a
tsunami of additional documents’ onto its
planning portal since extending the public
consultation, and that the platform had
frequently been down, preventing access
to the files.
“Consequently Barbican Quarter Action
hopes that when the Committee sits on
April 17 it will reject the application for
what it is: unfit for purpose, unworkable,
damaging to the City’s reputation and,
most alarming of all, injurious to the future
of people and the planet. We continue to
believe that this great City can and should
do better and that it should retain and
adapt these fine buildings in line with its
own policies on sustainable development.”
A City of London Corporation spokesperson
said: “No officer recommendation
Image: Jan Marc Petroschka.
has been cast in relation to this planning
application.”
The LDRS previously reported how
the two buildings are to potentially be
occupied by the City of London Police
and School for Girls Sixth Form. A spokesperson
for the City confirmed it is working
with the City of London Police to find ‘an
interim facility’ while Guildhall Yard East is
being refurbished, though that no decision
had been made. They would not comment
on the School for Girls sixth form, currently
located in the Barbican estate, though said
requests had been received to use both of
the buildings.
Opinion: Chris Hayward
City of London Corporation launches new five-year Corporate Plan and People Strategy
THE City of London is unique. Our blend of
ancient history with modern skyscrapers,
first-class business ecosystem and thriving
residential communities, mean that we are
one of the world’s great cities.
The Square Mile’s story is one of
Image: Jenny Green and
City of London Corporation
evolution – a place that people and firms
the world over have made home. Time and
again, the City has proven its resilience, its
adaptability, and its leadership.
Today’s challenges demand that we
rise to this historical standard. We have
problems to solve like economic growth,
the climate crisis, and technological
transformation.
The Square Mile must chart a course
that engages with these big issues because
where the City succeeds, our communities
succeed, and the country succeeds.
To support the City along the continued
path to success, the City of London
Corporation – the governing body of the
Square Mile – has launched its new fiveyear
Corporate Plan and People Strategy.
We have set out our priorities for the
next five years, strengthening areas that
matter across the City: our communities,
economic growth, the environment, our
competitiveness, our public services, and
our green spaces.
These priorities are interlinked: better
economic growth will boost the City’s
competitiveness and public services, which
strengthens our communities, open spaces,
and environment. Likewise, improving our
environment and open spaces, strengthens
our communities, public services, and
competitiveness, which will provide better
economic growth.
Taken together, our Corporate Plan
and People Strategy are opportunities to
provide a world-class experience for all
those who live, work, learn, and explore
in the Square Mile and use our services
further afield.
We have been guided by the principle
that the Square Mile means many things to
many people.
Locally, the Square Mile is home to
around 8,600 residents and 22,000 businesses.
There are many reasons why
people and firms choose the City: we are a
safe and secure place to be, our unrivalled
history and heritage, our cultural offer, and
our leading business network to name just
a few.
Globally, the City is the leading light of
commerce, the historic home of financial
and professional services. We are full of
talented people from across the world,
all working to strengthen trade not just
between cities and countries, but across
continents.
Nationally, the Square Mile is the engine
in the economy. A record high 615,000
people work here, covering everything
from food and finance to science and
social media.
And the City is a vital partner in the capital’s
success. We work with the boroughs,
City Hall, and others, to speak with one
voice, ensuring that London is well represented
both domestically and abroad.
As the custodians of the City, we have
a duty to deliver excellence. Whether it is
delivering brilliant basic statutory duties like
any other local authority, or supporting an
unrivalled commercial infrastructure, we
deliver for people.
I do not underestimate the challenges
that lie ahead. But we should relish the
responsibility that comes with being part of
a great global city.
We have a huge contribution to make, so
together, let’s take the City into a brighter,
more prosperous, and more sustainable
future for all.