By News Reporters
Dan Cruickshank visited Fitzrovia today to support campaigners in their efforts to save Goodge Street’s oldest building from the wreckers ball.
The architectural historian had written to Camden’s planners urging them to reject an application to demolish the building which has many original Georgian interior features.
1-3 Goodge Street is currently empty and the owners want to redevelop the building along with its neighbours on a site that is on the corner with Tottenham Court Road.
Camden’s planning committee will hear two planning applications (scheme A and scheme B) which both propose demolishing the interior of the building leaving only the facade. Objections were received from Charlotte Street Conservation Area Advisory Committee, Charlotte Street Association, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, Howard House & Cleveland Street (north) Neighbourhood Watch and 10 individuals.
The planning committee will make a decision Thursday 23 August 2012 in an evening that appears to be billed as a Fitzrovia Demolition Derby. Chair of the planning committee councillor Milena Nuti is away on holiday and it seems Camden’s officers feel it’s good time to line up four buildings in Fitzrovia and recommend that controversial planning permissions are passed.
One of the other applications to be heard is the plan to demolish the former Swiss Club at 74 Charlotte Street. Again the owners want to demolish the interior but leave the facade, leading many commentators to describe the Charlotte Street Conservation Area potentially becoming a “stage set”.
Regulars at Camden’s Development Control Committee, Derwent London also have a planning application on offer. They want to fill in the arcade at Central Cross along Tottenham Court Road and increase the retail floorspace.
So many decisions to be taken at one meeting affecting an area that is in just one council ward is unheard of in over 40 years say local campaigners. It remains to be seen if the councillors defy the officers and spoil the developers party.