Neighbourhood news, features, and comment
A Westminster council planning committee is being asked to approve a legal agreement to enable affordable homes at a landmark West End development to be re-sold at market prices because mortgage lenders will no longer finance the type of property offered. The "intermediate affordable" homes are at Rathbone Square, part of a major development by …
Continue reading "Mortgage providers will not lend for affordable homes at West End site"
Plans for a new hotel in Fitzrovia will be unveiled at a public exhibition at the site on Newman Street next week. Travel and leisure group Leeu Collection will shortly be submitting a planning application to Westminster City Council to redevelop 50-57 Newman Street. The site was at one time a post office but its last …
Continue reading "Travel group to reveal new plans for hotel on Newman Street"
Prime minister Theresa May has been depicted as Marilyn Monroe in a piece of street art which appeared on a wall on a street corner in Fitzrovia this weekend. The stencil painting is signed by Loretto and shows May with her trademark leopard skin shoes with her skirt blowing in an updraft, mimicking the American film …
An excavation between Rathbone Place and Newman Street in Fitzrovia has uncovered a number of interesting and unique finds according to an archaeology fieldwork report. The investigation carried out between November 2014 and March 2015 found a series of post-medieval walls, drains and brick-lined pits, constructed on the site in the late 18th century, as well as 19th century …
Continue reading "Excavation reveals post-medieval pits and potential Civil War fort"
A group of people calling themselves Squatters and Homeless Autonomy (SHA) have been occupying a commercial building in Fitzrovia since last week in protest against homelessness. The building at 60 Newman Street was previously the offices for Ramboll, a group of consulting engineers, designers and management consultants. In the window of the building SHA have displayed anti-capitalist …
Continue reading "Squatting collective occupy building in Newman Street"
Portraits of everyday life in southern Asia by documentary photographer Leo Manning-Jones will be on view at the launch of a new office space in Newman Street this Tuesday (17 February). The public are invited to join the hosts of Newman House, a new co-working space in the heart of Fitzrovia, for a social evening to see the office space, …
Continue reading "Life images of India and Nepal at Newman House"
An application to increase the capacity of a proposed private members club in Fitzrovia is meeting with strong opposition from residents, community groups and local councillors who say it will create a late-night noise nuisance. The application for the premises at 19 Newman Street will be discussed by a Westminster council licensing committee at City Hall this …
Continue reading "A bigger late night club in Newman Street is not wanted"
Fitzrovia is to lose another post office with the announcement that a branch at 19 Newman Street is to close and there are plans afoot to open a beauty salon or late night club on the site. A notice displayed at the sub post office states: "Following the resignation of the Postmaster and the withdrawal of …
Great Portland Estates' recent announcement of development plans will bring more misery for residents and businesses in Fitzrovia with the news that a site in Wells Street will be demolished and redeveloped, while a less environmentally-damaging refurbishment is planned for a site on Oxford Street. GPE said in their half year results for 2014: "At Tasman …
Continue reading "GPE’s plans mean more disruption from construction work in Fitzrovia"
The PR firm Freud Communications looks set to say farewell to its long-time home on Newman Street after Westminster council gave permission for the office block to be converted into 23 luxury flats. A planning application submitted by Newman Street Ltd was approved at Tuesday's planning application committee which was chaired by deputy council leader Robert …
Continue reading "Freud Communications offices to become luxury flats"
