MITSUBISH MONSTER FAILS GOVE’S BEAUTY CONTEST
The first test of Michael Gove’s new proposals to consider “ beauty” in the planning process is coming to a close on Wednesday.
Just before Christmas Mr Gove published new draft national planning guidance for
consultation, which included adding the requirement to put beauty back into buildings. The first test of the new policy could be two conjoined tall buildings proposed for London’s South Bank, derided by critics from across the spectrum as ‘slabs’ and an ‘ugly brute’.
Nicholas Boys Smith, Gove’s ‘beauty czar’ appeared on behalf of community campaign group Save our South Bank, concluding “When you look at the needs, health and wellbeing of the wider population, design is not subjective. There are discoverable relationships between the places we pass through and live and work in with our mental and physical health. This is application is not good design: it is faceless, lopsided and over-heavy. It takes light and scars the skyline, over-imposing itself on the river and what remains of the surviving historic streetscape with abandon. It should not be deemed to be policy-compliant.”
20th Century Society
“The Southbank stretch of the River Thames is one of the world’s most recognisable urban vistas, with the most important collection of modernist architecture in the country – with no less than four outstanding post-war listed buildings. The compelling evidence given to the inquiry by C20 Society and others over the past month, underline the stark choice the Inspector and Secretary of State now faces: respect the unique setting, heritage and dynamism of the Southbank, or green-light a universally derided development that will cause irreversible damage.”
Historic England also objected to the proposals, highlighting key views of St Paul’s and other listed buildings being harmed by the sheer scale of the buildings. They were joined by the National Theatre and over 5,000 people who signed a petition. Other
issues raised range from the loss of daylight to social housing in the area to the impact on carbon emissions by the unnecessary demolition of the 1970s ITV tower.
Twelve days of the 72 Upper Ground Public Inquiry being held at 15 Hatfields, London, SE1 8DJ were completed in early January. The closing submissions, however, will happen on Wednesday 25th January 10 a.m.
Michael Ball (WCDG) will make the first Closing Submission, for Save our South Bank; then Charles Streeten for Coin Street Community Builders (CSBC) followed by Matthew Reed for Lambeth Council and Rupert Warren for MEC London Property.
The Secretary of State, Michael Gove, will make a final decision later in the Spring, after he has received the report from Planning Inspector, Christa Masters.
