Amended Plans for Block D, Regent’s Quarter, Now Submitted for Planning Approval

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

Composite Local residents would have recently received notification of an amended Planning Application P080281from P & O for their re-development of Block D at Regent’s Quarter.

The site is bordered by York Way, Wharfdale Road, Balfe Street and Railway Street.  We believe that it’s safe to relax since after speaking to both Gary Brooks, Head of Development for P & O and Joe Salim, the Council’s Planning Officer, the "amendments" being sought are marginal.

Apparently they revolve around changes to the mix of social housing being provided (not the overall amount) and the changes have been requested by the Council.  The Council decided that it would be appropriate to have a revised application and a new consultation – thus the new letter that many of us received.  Our initial fears that this might have been an attempt to seek a larger development were unfounded.  Please note the comments following from Gary.


Hi Stephan

The amendments are only those requested by Islington and are more to do with Housing mix within the affordable housing and sustainability.

The height of the new residential has actually come down and the massing of the remainder is the same as we presented to you and fellow residents earlier this year.

Gary

Many of you will remember being invited to a full presentation of P & O’s plans several months ago and their responsiveness to several changes suggested by residents.  We would also note that the previous consultation period ended with no objections from local residents, so most folks feel pretty comfortable with their overall plans.

We now look forward to them "getting on with it" as it will provide a major boost to the area.

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Behind the scenes at Kings Cross Station – anyone up for a tour?

Posted on June 23, 2008 by William Perrin

Kings_cross_tourKings Cross station is a fascinating building with huge areas hidden behind the scenes and loads of work going on.  I had a quick look around the Western Range last year and was astonished by the Victorian offices and corridors largely untouched except for institutional paint.  In what i hope is part of a genuine attempt to connect with the community that will last beyond the current dispute about closing entrances, Network Rail has offered to organise some tours.  If you are interested let me know (click here) or go to Alastair Metcalfe direct at Network Rail and if we can get enough people we can fix a date or two.

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Open Up King’s Cross Station: Letters to Network Rail

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Kx_bridge_map_1894

It turns out that the Arup feasibility report referred to in the letter sent out by Network Rail (Download network_rail_letter.pdf) did not assess the feasibility of the Wharfdale Road/Battlebridge Road footbridge that we as a community have been calling for. At the LB Camden Development Control Committee meeting that gave final planning permission to the redevelopment of King’s Cross Station, it was agreed that via a Section 106 agreement Network Rail would carry out a feasibility study into the bridge the community wanted.
Network Rail did not assess the bridge we want because they were directed to omit that bridge as an option by LB Camden Planning Officers.
So the Arup report does not fulfil the commitment made by Network Rail and agreed by LB Camden’s elected respresentatives sitting on the Development Control Committee.
It might be helpful if each of us write, as individuals or where appropriate as representatives of our organisations, to Andrew Mitchell, Major Programme Director at Network Rail informing him that the Arup report fails to meet the commitment made with the Development Control Committee and asking him when we can expect Network Rail to actually meet that commitment. I understand his email address is: andrew.h.mitchell@networkrail.co.uk. Letters should ideally be copied to members of LB Camden’s Development Control Committee – these can be copied from below and pasted into the cc section your emails. If any of these Councillors represent the ward you vote in, please include that information in your letter. Oh and, please copy me in too!

Posted in #googlebridgeKX, Kings Cross Station Refurbishment | Leave a comment

Another new planning application for 62-68 York Way (corner of Wharfdale Road)

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

Site_logoIn spite of already having an approved planning application for this site that has been in effect since 2002, the developer claiming to control 62-68 York Way has now submitted yet another fresh planning application – P080767.

You may remember that during 2007 this same developer submitted a plan for a building larger then his 2002 plan and that the application was refused by the Council.  That decision is now being appealed by the developer and the outcome should be known shortly.  The basis of the Council’s refusal was that the approved 2002 plan was already sufficiently large and the developer should stop trying to increase the size of his building and get on and actually build that which has already been approved.

In typical fashion, this latest submission P080767 is again larger then the 2002 approved plan but slightly different then the 2007 plan that was refused (however it is exactly the same height).  To go directly to the application at the Council’s website Click Here.  Once at the application, click the tab that says Documents and Plans, then click View Documents.  There is lots of stuff on the site, so don’t get hung up – check out the "elevation" plans.

As there is nothing new in this latest 2008 plan to justify its increase size over the 2002 plan, what reason could there be for approval.  I hope many of you will agree.  As there is an approved plan in place which the developer has claimed to have begun, any approval of a new plan will simply allow him five more years to do nothing.  I don’t believe that is in the best interests of our local area.

It should also be noted that this same developer has submitted application after application, since 1995, each seeking larger and larger buildings for this site.  Please join with me in saying to this application “no more – get on and build the project for which you already have permission – or lose it.”

If you want to participate, please get in touch with me and I will provide you will everything you need to facilitate your objections – Stephan.

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Refresh Regent’s Canal

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

Refresh 3 July – 6 July, 10am – 5pm
Regent’s Canal: A Fresh Perspective: British Waterways Water Taxi
St Pancras Lock
Camley Street , NW1 0PL

British Waterways, who cares for and manages 100 miles of canals and rivers and 110 acres of docks in London is coordinating with the support of Conisbee, a firm of local structural and civil consultant engineers, “The Regent’s Canal: a fresh perspective”, a few days of events under the umbrella of the London Festival of Architecture.

On Sunday the 6th July, British Waterways and Conisbee are inviting visitors to gain a fresh outlook on the canal’s environment, and discover new aspects of this 200 years old transport network. ‘Jena’, British Waterways information boat will be moored along the towpath by Regent’s Wharf, providing information about the canal’s fascinating environment and the programme of activities for the day.

British Waterways, supported by the Islington Ecology Centre, are providing water taxis services. An actor impersonating ‘Carlo Gatti’ will be walking the towpath and tell visitors all about this 19th century swiss ice merchant who brought 400 tons of Norwegian ice by canal to New Wharf Road. The London Canal museum, that will be exceptionally free entry, will have talks on ice trade and ice wells.

Conisbee is coordinating the opening of the Waterpoint with exhibition of the work by local artist Marianne Fox Ockinga. Zwei design will have a contextual installation that draws inspiration from the local history and environment and Nick Hornby will enchant visitors with a floating model castle in the Camley Street Natural Park alongside a display on sustainable development.

This will be a day for the whole family to enjoy, with art activities for children provided by Thornhill Bridge Community Gardeners and Thames 21, and world premiere performance by british composer organised by the London Sinfonietta in unique settings. Finally, to sustain everyone, Canal125 is providing an organic BBQ menu. (see http://www.refreshregentscanal.co.uk for full programme).

Posted in Arts and Entertainment | Leave a comment

Twilight Picnic – June Solstice 2008

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Stephan Schulte

Hist_canals_2 The Bulletin Board has been asked to pass on the following invitation from one of our neighbours Bob Stuckey for an annual event that he has been arranging for a number of years.

Folks are invited to a Twilight Picnic marking the geometry of the June Solstice 2008 on the longest day of the year – Friday 20th June.

The Party will start at 7pm at The Herb Garden, Omega Place N1 by the southern tip of Caledonian Road.

A selection of vegetarian food and teas/juices will be provided courtesy by Tony’s Natural Foods of Caledonian Road.

Then, at 8pm there will be a performance of extracts from "Canal" a celebration of the birth and adolescence of the Regent’s Canal by the Musical Flying Squad.  The scene will be set with candles and lanterns.

Should you like any more information please contact your host Bob via text on (07751) 083-829.

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Let Us Through! The campaign to open up King’s Cross Station launches

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Sophie Talbot

P6160005

At 12 noon today residents and representatives met at King’s Cross Station to formally launch the campaign to open up King’s Cross Station, making it permeable for the whole community as well as other station users. This follows the submission of a long-promised feasibility study by Network Rail to LB Camden (the authority responsible for giving planning permission for the station redevelopment) stating that they will close all current entrances to that station and replace them with one entrance on the western side. This is despite calls from the King’s Cross community to the east, north and south of the station for a more modern approach to station redesign along the lines of Paddington or Liverpool St stations where multiple entrances enable the free-flow of pedetrians creating a safe, open station environment. Campaigners are currently planning a public meeting to take this forward with representatives of Network Rail likely to be held next month.
This week’s freebie, the Islington Tribune, carries a letter from Sophie about the station. We are hoping for more coverage next week…
P6160002_2 Group photo left to right: Rachel Katz: resident of Maiden Lane Estate LB Camden, Cllr Paul Braithwaite: LB Camden, Sophie Talbot: King’s Cross Community Projects and Battlebridge Basin resident LB Islington, Parliamentary Candidate Bridget Fox: Islington South & Finsbury, Diana Shelley: Cally Rail Group and north King’s cross resident LB Islington, John Ashwell: King’s Cross Community Projects and Wharfdale Road resident LB Islington.
Network Rail’s feasibility study into provision of a footbridge is  available below. Please send your thoughts, opinions, comments on it or anything else to do with opening up King’s Cross Station to kxaccess@cookie.org.uk.
Posted in #googlebridgeKX, Kings Cross Station Refurbishment | Leave a comment

Flying bombs and the blitz in Kings Cross

Posted on June 14, 2008 by William Perrin

Bomb_damage_map The Kings Cross area was hit by four V1 flying bombs during the second world war and suffered several other heavy hits from aircraft.  Bombing was mapped during the war by the LCC architects.  In a clumsy way I have transposed the original beautifully hand coloured maps onto Google maps at this link here.  The flying bombs are marked with triangles on the map.  For security reasons, the maps didn’t record the bombs that hit St Pancras and Kings Cross Stations.

It makes it easy to see what influenced the pattern of post war social housing.  Some terraced streets were replaced in a hurry by estates like Tiber Gardens and the old Naish Court.  Other areas were either patched up or limped on as bombsites until the 1970s. 

It starts to be clear that it wasn’t just the 1960s and 70s town planners who demolished the grid pattern – some streets were bombed out of existance, possibly with heavy loss of life.  Two flying bombs landing within 500 yards of each other (the circles in the picture above) might well make you want to start again.  I shall do some research into press coverage at the time – if anyone remembers this or  has a relative who does drop me a line.  If you want to see the original maps they are held in the neighbourhood at the London Metropoltian Archive in Finsbury near Exmouth Market.  If anyone wants to do their own personal research but can’t get there i have put some large photos of the two maps in the album here.

Posted in Kings Cross local history | 6 Comments