Neighbourhood news, features, and comment
Camden Council is seeking guidance from the public on the future of shopping streets, the state of nature in the borough, and on updating its planning guidance. The council has launched three "commonplace engagements" -- a crowd-sourced form of public consultation -- where the public can place virtual sticky notes on a map with suggestions …
Continue reading "Camden Council seeks guidance on high streets, biodiversity, and planning"
There were 10 planning applications validated by Westminster Council in Fitzrovia West during September 2020. Most of the applications are minor alterations and conditions connected with existing planning consents and advertising applications, and there are air conditioning units proposed at Mortimer Street. There is also a planning appeal in relation to an application refused at …
Continue reading "Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, September 2020"
There were 39 planning applications registered by Camden Council in Bloomsbury ward during September 2020. Most of the applications are for minor alterations and to satisfy conditions, some advertising consents, and there are several pavement licences under the "streateries" scheme. There is an application to demolish and redevelop 52 Tottenham Street, an extension proposed at …
Continue reading "Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia, September 2020"
The Times reports that fellow Conservatives at Westminster council approved a home extension and overturned the planning department's recommendation to reject the plans. Robert Jenrick the secretary of state for housing who is currently embroiled in a row over a planning decision has some previous experience with planning matters, reports The Times newspaper. Conservative councillors …
The developer of an underground hotel in Great Russell Street has taken the first step in seeking planning permission to squeeze an additional 42 guest bedrooms into the former car park four and five storeys beneath street level, in a move the Bloomsbury Association says is an "abuse of the planning system". Centro Planning Consultancy, …
Westminster council has announced that it is to delay a consultation on the revision of its major planning policies until the spring of 2018. In an email to community groups, Councillor Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for planning and public realm, explained that due to a number of recent policy announcements from the Mayor of London and …
Continue reading "Westminster council moves review of City Plan to spring 2018"
Camden Council is seeking the public's views on its updated planning guidance documents, which provide detailed information on how the council applies its planning policies. The review of the planning guidance aims to support the delivery of the recently adopted Local Plan and update documents to reflect changes to national planning policy, says Camden. The …
Continue reading "Camden planning guidance update consultation"
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"
From this month Camden Council will no longer send out notices by letter to people living near to a site where a planning application has been submitted. From 1 October 2016 Camden Council stopped sending neighbour notification letters about planning applications, but says it has improved site notices and its electronic system. The council says it has new and improved site …
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Community groups have condemned plans by Camden Council which would mean new social housing gained from property development in central London would not be built, but instead be replaced by cash payments and spent elsewhere. The new proposals are contained in a report drawn up by Frances Wheat the assistant director for regeneration and planning and submitted to Councillor Phil Jones, cabinet member for …
Continue reading "Planning guidance revision threatens new social housing in south Camden"
Camden Council is hosting a public forum on Wednesday 27 January to hear the public's views on long-term proposals by the University of London for its Bloomsbury campus. The University of London Masterplan will inform the estate strategy over the next 15-20 years and set out key principles, aspirations and development parameters to inform future development on the campus …
Continue reading "Comments invited on University of London Bloomsbury campus plans"
Camden Council's planning committee has thrown out controversial plans for a windowless, underground hotel, to the joy of local residents and the Bloomsbury Association who campaigned against it. The committee sitting in a chilly town hall -- because the heating had failed -- last Thursday (14 January) had to deal with a packed agenda. Camden's planning …
By Roger Wilson For those who want to travel cheaply and aren't too concerned about a window view, an inside cabin on board ship can be an expedient, if not delightful, experience. It may not matter too much that waking up in the morning you don't know whether to put on a sweater or a …
Continue reading "Staying underground can seriously damage your neighbours’ health"
Westminster City Council is changing the way it consults on planning and licensing applications in a move towards paperless working. From 1 October 2015 the consultation period for planning applications will also be extended from 21 to 28 days. In an email to Westminster's amenity societies the council says it will change to a near paperless …
Residents and business owners are pushing Camden Council to reject new plans for a basement hotel in Great Russell Street because of the harm it would cause to the local environment. Criterion Capital who own a number of sites in central London including the Trocadero fun house want to convert a basement car park which is …
Continue reading "Basement hotel would be an overdevelopment on an already crowded site"
People are often awestruck by the schemes which receive planning permission and feel powerless to influence decisions taken by distant committees. Poor development is waved through and little community benefit is offered in return. Now a group of local people in the Westminster part of Fitzrovia are working to resolve the problem, and raise the standard for developments that …
Continue reading "A neighbourhood plan can help control development in Fitzrovia West"
A residents' association in Fitzrovia has accused Westminster Council's planning officers of having a "cavalier attitude" towards assessing documents for a major development proposal and has asked for the consultation period to be extended. However, the City Council has rejected the claim and says the application will go before councillors this week. In an exchange of letters seen …
Camden Council's planning committee is due to make a decision this month on plans to redevelop a former hospital building in Fitzrovia. But despite the site being identified for housing the proposals would deliver only two affordable homes. UCLH Charity seeks to redevelop Arthur Stanley House in Tottenham Street by refurbishing the main building and constructing an extension at the rear. The …
Continue reading "Camden Council must not waste an opportunity to gain housing"
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"
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is to unveil updated plans for a new hospital building that will bring under one roof services currently provided at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital and the Eastman Dental Hospital. The plans, which will be shown at three exhibitions this week, will present "a new …
Continue reading "Updated plans for hospital in Huntley Street to be shown"
