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PUBLIC EXHIBITION - latest designs by architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Hammersmith Town Hall, Kings Street, Hammersmith, W6 9JU
Thursday 21st March 2013, 3pm-8pm, in the Playfair Room
Saturday 23rd March 2013, 10am-2pm, in the Courtyard Room
Please try to attend the public exhibition, where architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands will be exhibiting the latest designs proposed for the King Street Regeneration Project.
The submission of a planning application to London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham is expected in the summer, so we are keen for as many people as possible to go along and comment on the designs.
COUNCIL BOWS TO PRESSURE TO REDESIGN TOWN HALL SCHEME - Tuesday 24th July 2012
Save Our Skyline is delighted to announce that Cllr Nicholas Botterill, Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, announced yesterday that the Council would be revising the proposed scheme for the redevelopment of the Hammersmith Town Hall site, following pressure by local community and amenity groups including SOS.
In a press release issued on 23 July 2012 by the Council, it stated: "the old proposals - which were worked up with King Street Developments Ltd (KSD) - will now not be pursued, Cllr Botterill said the council and KSD have 'listened and learned' from the opposition to the previous scheme."
Cllr Botterill went on to say:
"We got it wrong with the previous King Street proposals and we have learned from it. We guarantee the tallest buildings in a new scheme will not exceed the height of the existing town hall extension."
Save Our Skyline welcomes this change of approach from our Council and that Cllr Botterill is showing a willingness to address the serious concerns that the community had raised in respect of this scheme. While the height and density of the scheme were not the only concerns raised, this new commitment is clearly a significant and positive change of approach.
We look forward to a constructive dialogue at an early stage on the details of any future scheme. We hope that the views of our supporters will be taken into account in the development of new plans.
John Jones, Chair of Save our Skyline, commented:
"We thank the community for the incredible support that they have shown this campaign and strongly hope that this announcement will presage a more constructive dialogue with the Council for the benefit of the Borough and its residents."
FUTURE OF TOWN HALL PROPOSALS STILL UNCERTAIN - Tuesday 1st May 2012
As of 1 May the Council has still not submitted the Stage 2 application to the Mayor of London which is necessary before the Council-approved scheme could go ahead. The future of the scheme will depend not only on the outcome of the Mayoral election on 3 May but also the outcome of the Council's own leadership election on 30 May at the Annual Council, when the present Leader Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh will stand down.
Save Our Skyline has asked all five Mayoral candidates for their response to the Town Hall scheme should they win the election. We have, however, been advised that it would be difficult for the main candidates to respond as this leaves the GLA open to legal challenge (on grounds of predetermination) if the scheme is resubmitted once they are elected.
BORIS REFUSES TO APPROVE TOWN HALL SCHEME - FOR NOW - Friday 16 December 2011
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson told Council chiefs he would not let the plan go ahead because it breached planning rules. Subsequently, Hammersmith & Fulham Council withdrew the application.
This means that the Council's application is still live and could potentially still be referred back to the Mayor at a future date but for now the application is on hold. We will keep supporters informed of any change to this situation.
Well done and a BIG thank you to all those who have supported Save Our Skyline throughout this campaign.
We wish you the very best for the festive season.
Save Our Skyline
SAVE OUR SKYLINE PROTEST AT CITY HALL - Wednesday 14 December 2011
Save Our Skyline 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 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". There is much speculation regarding what this actually means.
SAVE OUR SKYLINE VIDEO RELEASED
Following the approval of the King Street Development scheme by the Hammersmith and Fulham Council Planning Applications Committee we have produced a video containing comments from some of those opposed to the scheme.
It is critical that you write NOW to the GLA asking them to block the scheme, and the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, to ask for him to call in the scheme.
REVISED TOWN HALL SCHEME APPROVED AT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
SOS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE FIGHTING DEVELOPMENT
30 November 2011 - At a Planning Applications Committee meeting held by Hammersmith and Fulham Council at Latymer Upper School today, the Committee granted planning permission to King Street Development's proposed scheme for the redevelopment of the Town Hall area.
This permission was granted in spite of huge opposition from local residents, including over 1,000 letters of objection from individuals, and objections from 38 local residents' associations, heritage and statutory groups, including English Heritage and the Greater London Authority, and over 8,500 signatures to petitions opposing the scheme and calling for the retention of the cinema.
Residents found support from Lucy Ivimy, the Conservative councillor for Ravenscourt Park, who accused her colleagues of pushing for the scheme only because of their 'wish for new offices'.
PAC members who voted FOR the scheme:
PAC members who voted AGAINST the scheme:
SOS and other groups will continue to fight this scheme, requesting that the scheme be blocked by the Greater London Authority or called in by the Secretary of State.
Read more from the PAC meeting
NEW POSTERS TO DOWNLOAD AND DISPLAY
Please print one of these posters to publicise the Planning Application Committee meeting on 30 November (details below) and show your support for Save Our Skyline.
You are legally entitled to display posters on your own property, or on a friend's or neighbour's property with their permission. This does not constitute flyposting. We have been advised that Council employees are removing posters; if you see a Council employee or anyone else removing posters from your property, please do challenge them and let us know. Posters displayed on the boundary with public land, for example on a wall next to the pavement, may be considered to be on public land and the Council could be entitled to remove them, so ideally please display posters inside your property boundaries, or better still in a window where they can't be removed.
Help us to attract as many people to the meeting as possible, and let's use the posters to make a statement the Council can't ignore.
PLANNING APPLICATION COMMITTEE MEETING TO DECIDE ON TOWN HALL SCHEME
Wednesday 30 November 2011, 7pm at Latymer Upper School, 237 King St, London W6 9LR
The meeting will be held in the main hall, located just behind the entrance gates on King Street.
Please come to show your support. This is our last chance to show the Council the real strength of feeling in the community. Please note that members of the audience will not be able to speak at the meeting. However, a packed hall will show the Council that they are under the spotlight, and indicate the importance and sensitivity of the project to the Greater London Authority and the Secretary of State.
Who are the Planning Committee members that will make the decision?
Save Our Skyline, a group of concerned local residents, in association with more than 30 residents' associations and community groups, has led opposition to the Town Hall plans since July 2010.
We believe that:
- The height and density of the proposed developments (one tower rising to fifteen storeys) is excessive and out of keeping with the surrounding area.
- The proposed 2000m2 supermarket is unnecessary and will undermine local shops.
- The proposed footbridge with its high access ramps will have a destructive impact on Furnivall Gardens and the historic riverside buildings.
- The 1930s cinema and 1900s Cromwell Mansions should be preserved, and the cinema should continue to act as a cultural asset to the community.
- The blind and other vulnerable tenants of Pocklington Buildings should not be forced out of their homes of many years.
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Over 30 local residents' associations and national conservation bodies objected to the original and revised plans, and LBHF received over 700 letters of objection to the scheme.
In our opinion the revisions are minor, cosmetic changes and did not go nearly far enough.
» CHANGES IN THE REVISED SCHEME «
(taken from the Planning Supporting Statement Addendum Document)
- A four storey reduction in height of the tallest south block to 10 storeys
- Slightly slimmer profiles of the tallest parts of the north and south blocks
- Reduction in the number of flats from 320 to 290
- Small reduction in the footprint and reduction in the height of the civic offices by one storey to five storeys
- Elevated section of Nigel Playfair Avenue now curves around the west facade of the listed Town Hall, giving more room to the lightwell between them
- The footbridge crosses the A4 at a slight angle and lands 5m further east from the corner of Sussex House. The earthmound in Furnivall Gardens is unchanged.
- Cosmetic changes to the cladding of the blocks facing the new public square and to the monumental steps, and to other blocks
- Four new town houses at the back of the civic offices in Cromwell Avenue
Full Planning Application -
2010/03465/FUL
Listed Building Consent -
2010/03466/LBC
Conservation Area Consent -
2010/03467/CAC
Thank you.
Save Our Skyline