Save Our South Bank

WE ARE GOING TO COURT!

• In October Save Our Southbank are going to the High Court for the Judicial Review of Michael Gove’s permission for the ugly Slab proposed for 72 Upper Ground. Permission for a JR was granted in June. The full hearing is funded by donations, and we have raised over £20,000 - but we are still short of around £5,000. Please donate here - which also includes giftaid!

NEXT MEETING: WCDG AGM Thurs 21st Nov
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A reminder of our challenge:

London’s South Bank – one of the UK’s most popular open spaces – is threatened by a massive over-development. With your help the SOS Save Our South Bank action group presented  to the public inquiry. And with your help we can win. We have all the facts on our side.

HERITAGE

From the outset, Historic England was concerned about the impact of “The Slab” on protected views of St Paul’s Cathedral.

In February, Michael Gove, Secretary of State, published his decision agreeing with the Inspector’s recommendations, but disagreeing with and expressing strong reservations about the scale, massing, materials, and townscape impact of the proposals.

He considered the development would dominate views and cause heritage harm to the South Bank conservation area, Roupell Conservation area, and to the setting and significance of 3 listed buildings - Somerset House, National Theatre, IBM.

However, he did not give his views or reasons as to the impact on protected views of St Paul's, Waterloo Bridge and five other Conservation Areas. This is the first ground of our legal challenge.

PLANNING

We believe the Secretary of State misinterpreted planning policy and failed to recognise the requirement to deliver housing as part of the development. The site is allocated for mixed use including housing, and the previous consent included 213 homes.

We also assert that the Secretary of State misinterpreted planning policy when it comes to the circular economy and the requirement to consider whether the existing building on site could be retained to deliver residential uses. The construction of the development would generate 103,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Thank you from the Save Our South Bank Action Group
saveoursouthbank22@gmail.com