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Argent sew
up King's Cross redevelopment
Objectors fail to halt controversial
£2bn project
DEVELOPERS Argent Limited looked to have clinched the redevelopment
of King’s Cross – despite a last-gasp appeal to Deputy
Prime Minister John Prescott.
Objectors to the £2 billion overhaul had hoped to evoke
a rarely-used planning law to force a public inquiry.
But the Government Office for London – regional advisers
to Mr Prescott – have told interested parties that it will
not be recommending further action and is not interested in
calling in the scheme for extra scrutiny.
A decision had been delayed as protesters deluged the GOL with
objections and called on the Deputy Prime Minister to dig up
Article 14 of a Town and Country Planning Order from 1995.
The clause gives Mr Prescott the power to intervene when applications
have a national importance.
Campaign groups such as the King’s Cross Railway Lands
Group (KXRLG) are amongst objectors who claim Argent’s
plans for the area are a perfect example of where the rule should
be used. A series of written protests argued that the blueprint
for the 67 acre site was too big for Camden Council to handle
and that councillors had signed off a project that failed to
maximise the opportunity for low cost housing when they agreed
the designs last month.
The GOL letter, understood to have been sent to the Town Hall
and Argent, however, firmly indicated that the government is
happy with the application as it stands.
It said: “Having carefully considered all the matters set
out, together with all the representations received by the Government
Office for London or ministers and those sent to Camden Council,
and having regard to the policy on call in, ministers have concluded
that intervention would not be justified.
“Ministers are satisfied that there is insufficient conflict
with national planning policies on the above matters or any
other sufficient reason to warrant calling in the application.”
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has already given his blessing
to the scheme – even though Islington Council has yet to
deliberate on part of the project that crosses the border. Councillors
will discuss the applications at a planning meeting on Tuesday.
Argent can begin work on the site as early as next year.
Chief executive Roger Madelin told a council planning meeting
last month that his company had found the right balance for
a “sustainable community” in the new look King’s
Cross. |
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