Save Our South Bank

Save Our Southbank! (SOS)

London’s South Bank – one of the UK’s most popular open spaces – is threatened by two overbearing joined-together tower blocks. Despite SOS presenting a strong case at the lengthy public inquiry in 2023, this was recently approved by Secretary of State Michael Gove!

If it is allowed to stand, the decision would cause immense harm to national heritage treasures, the South Bank and views across two miles of river views. But, perhaps even more importantly, it flies in the face of policy regarding housing, reducing carbon and the circular economy (re-using existing buildings where possible).

However, the decision contains significant legal errors, and we intend to challenge that decision in the High Court - but we need your help! Such a challenge costs money. We have already raised £7000 to get us to a public enquiry  but we need at least a further £15,000 to mount the challenge in the coming weeks.

Please help us to raise funds for the ongoing legal campaign to fight what has become known as “The Slab” and which Simon Jenkins in the Guardian labelled an “aggressive eyesore”, Rowan Moore in The Observer describing it as "a brute of a building," and Richard Morrison in The Times deeming it "a grotesque monstrosity."

Please donate generously and share our campaign with your networks. Together we can make a difference - and, as a registered charity, WCDG can also recover Gift Aid for this campaign, so every £100 donated by you is £120 received for the campaign!

For more information, contact saveoursouthbank22@gmail.com

Make a donation on this page or please use : donate.giveasyoulive.com/campaign/save-our-south-bank
Or direct to this account:
Waterloo Community Development Group
Sort code 40-52-40
AC no. 00022912.
Using the reference "72UG"

Save Our South Bank (SOS) is a grassroots movement comprised of concerned residents and over 6,000 allies who united nearly three years ago to oppose Mitsubishi Estate’s reckless plans for 72 Upper Ground, the old ITV Studios site right on the River Walkway alongside the Thames. Waterloo Community Development Group (WCDG) is a 50-year old local charity which strongly supports the campaign and is able to collect Gift Aid on all contributions.

The proposals would demolish the 50-year old LWT tower and London Studios and generate 100,000 tonnes of carbon in constructing nearly 1m sq ft of concrete offices in two conjoined tall buildings. The amount of carbon generated by construction would be more than 4,000 individuals driving from Surrey and back every day for 25 years!

We know this site needs to be redeveloped, and we want to see it brought back into use. The site is designated for housing as well as offices, but no housing is proposed. And the proposals have been blasted as ugly, faceless, lopsided and over-heavy by the government’s own adviser on design, Nicholas Boys Smith! In such a treasured area of London, neighboured by listed IBM and National Theatre buildings, the design must protect and enhance rather than dominate its surroundings. Instead, this block will steal daylight from the social housing directly behind it, and wreck or confine treasured views - including a protected view of St Paul’s.

The campaign so far:

Decision-makers Lambeth Council failed to take on board the impact this build will have on local people. The development would uplift the amount of development by 225% on what is already a tall building. However, the Secretary of State intervened, triggering a Public Inquiry in late 2022, which we fought vigorously thanks to the support of thousands of concerned people who donated to campaign.

Despite widespread opposition, on 9 February 2024 the Secretary of State Michael Gove gave the greenlight to “The Slab”, leaving us at a critical juncture. Given his reservations, particularly regarding the impact on London's iconic skyline, Mr. Gove's decision is puzzling, especially in light of his recent announcement prioritising housing on brownfield sites and repurposing disused office blocks for housing. This contradiction underscores the urgency of our cause and the need to hold decision-makers accountable for their actions.

The legal action:

We firmly believe that Gove's decision is legally flawed and are prepared to challenge it through judicial review. But we cannot do this alone. We urgently need to raise a further £15,000 to initiate the next phase in our legal battle.

In our David versus Goliath struggle, every contribution—no matter how small—counts. Your support will empower us to represent our case effectively and halt this destructive project in its tracks.