Rush & Tompkins and Chayton Properties are to appeal against Camden council’s decision to reject their proposed redevelopment of the Dominion Theatre site, WC1, as a 324-bedroom hotel with 15,000 sq ft of offices.
But conservation groups are delighted at the decision and are urging tighter planning restrictions to be imposed on the buildings at the junction of Tottenham Court Road and New Oxford Street.
“The controversy over Centre Point which took over the south-east corner of this major crossroads has detracted attention from the vigorous, colourful and well-detailed buildings on the other corners,” said SAVE’s president, Marcus Binney. “SAVE believes that English Heritage and the London boroughs should give higher priority to protecting and enhancing major London junctions such as this, many of which are seen as landmarks by huge numbers of visitors to London.”
In its report on the decision, Camden council gives 11 reasons for its refusal.
The development’s proposed hotel and the planned increase in office space are both contrary to the borough plan — as would be the resulting loss of retail and decrease in residential space.
If built as intended, the £45m scheme would also exceed the council’s standard plot ratio for the area.
The committee rejected the listed building application to demolish the theatre because this would contravene the council’s policy of retaining entertainment facilities and listed buildings.
The development partnership — known as Saveflex — also want to demolish unlisted Italianate terraces at 8-12 Great Russell Street. But the council ruled that their loss would be detrimental to the local townscape and against the Fitzrovia local plan.
