More than 100 people turned up to protest outside City Hall this morning in a final bid to overturn the go-ahead for the revamp of Hammersmith town hall.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson is due to make a decision today on whether to intervene on Hammersmith & Fulham council’s permission for Helical Bar’s and Grainger’s £110m redevelopment of the King Street site.
Campaign group Save our Skyline chanted “Boris say no”, urging him to block the proposals.
The plans include knocking down three buildings on King Street, including a historic cinema, and replacing them with four mixed-use blocks, ranging from nine to 15 storeys, and a 21,527 sq ft supermarket.
Actress Vanessa Redgrave, a Hammersmith resident for the past 25 years, said: “It is not right that our historic cinema should be demolished to make way for this eyesore. Also a giant supermarket will have a hugely negative impact on local traders.”
Local resident Annabel Clarke added: “This is unlike any other redevelopment scheme in the area, owing to the vast amount of listed buildings that stand to be affected.”
The approved proposals, submitted in August, come after initial plans for a new public square surrounded by cafés and restaurants, 320 homes, a new council HQ and a supermarket, had to be revised following a consulation.
Listen here to an interview with Marie Lou Jennings, chair of the Hammersmith Historic Buildings Group or download the full recording from Estates Gazette’s iTunes channel.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
