Every planning decision made in Kings Cross is governed by a strategy set every few years by the Council. If the 'core strategy;' says you can't have buildings over a certain height in an area or demolish old buildings or have buildings painted pink or made of spaghetti then you can't get planning permission for them. So the strategy is very important and the Council have just finished consulting on one.
Paul Convery is one of the three councillors for Caledonian Ward, the ward that includes King's Cross on the Islington side. Paul leads on issues relating to King's Cross and he submitted an excellent detailed response to the consultation, an extract of which appears below. "Firstly, I consider the Core Strategy Issues should recognise that the night-time economy does not contribute to good urbanism and to achieve more balanced living in neighbourhoods close to Kings Cross/St Pancras. I welcome the recent development of Regent Quarter and Kings Place and appreciate that extant policy has encouraged a cultural area in the neighbourhood east of Kings Cross Station.
"However, commercial pressures are beginning to exert a damaging effect on the established shops, restaurants and small business premises on Caledonian Road, particularly south of Copenhagen Street. I believe the distinctiveness and character of this area should be protected from the pressure to establish night clubs and large scale retail.
"Equally, there is a risk that the parts of Islington east of York Way will not be well integrated into the permitted developments of Kings Cross Central. I consider that the Core Strategy should state that Islington will encourage east-west permeability into Kings Cross Central. I particularly argue that current plans may encourage a
funnelling of traffic and footfall onto Copenhagen Street between York Way and Caledonian Road. I believe that policy should encourage several new east-west pedestrian routes, in particular:
- a new crossing point should be encouraged at Wharfdale Road spanning the Kings Cross railway tracks linking Regents Quarter, Kings Place, Crinan Street and points east of Wharfdale Road with the new Western Concourse at Kings Cross;
- a route from York Way at its junction with Randells Road through Bingfield Park through the Bemerton Estate towards Bridgeman Road."
Thanks for the intro Will 😉
Kings Cross Environment 