The High Court has rejected Harrods’ plans for a unique helicopter landing port on top of its flagship Knightsbridge store for owner Mohammed Al Fayed. The store lost its bid to side-step ordinary planning rules in an attempt to ease through plans for the helipad.
Sullivan J dismissed Harrods’ challenge to the refusal by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to grant a lawful development certificate that would have allowed helicopters to take off and land on the roof of Harrods.
But that may not be the end of the matter. It is still open to Harrods to go through the ordinary planning permission procedure to get a helipad on its roof, which will be a more lengthy process, possibly involving a public inquiry.
If it is ultimately successful, Harrods could become the first department store in the country to have a heliport on its roof. The court heard that other department stores in London have landing facilities for helicopters, but none on top of actual retail premises.
PLS News 24/7/01
