Mayor for London Ken Livingstone has thrown into doubt the proposed redevelopment of Camden Town tube station.
In a letter sent to Camden council planners last Friday, the GLA said Livingstone would refuse to allow London Underground’s (LU) “space-age” redevelopment of the station to go ahead in its present form.
The Mayor thinks that the scheme is “misconceived” and, although he welcomes the redevelopment in principle, Livingstone finds the form and quality of the current plans “poor and harmful on surrounding areas”.
LU’s controversial design includes a 14-storey office block, a nine-screen multiplex cinema, a restaurant, 50 flats and significant retail. But local residents and businesses have been up in arms recently since it was revealed that shops, a church and the famous Electric Ballroom music venue could all be demolished to make way for the scheme.
The letter said: “This site requires an imaginative quality design for any major redevelopment and this is currently lacking. The design of the buildings at this high-profile site should be elegant, of the highest quality and respect the surrounding environment.”
Last week, English Heritage expressed concerns about the office block, which would replace the Trinity United Reformed Church on Buck Street. The Mayor’s views will add considerable strength for the calls to have the planning application withdrawn and redrafted by LU.
A spokesperson said: “We’re not sure how far the redesign will go but the current situation is not satisfactory.” But she added that LU would not be withdrawing the application.
EGi News 10/05/01
