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King’s College – north site

Objection to large-scale development of site – 2015/16

2015/3936/P – King’s College north site

Redington Frognal Association were very concerned by this planning application, which had been submitted prior to determination of the application for a certificate of lawfulness for residential use. RedFrog contested this and made a deputation to Camden, having obtained witness statements from former students and teachers at Kidderpore Hall but, nevertheless, the certificate of lawfulness was granted.

Reasons for objecting to the large-scale development, included:

  • sacrifice of the Borough Grade II Site of Interest for Nature Conservation, excavated to provide two storeys of underground parking
  • the felling of 30 trees
  • harm to the settings of listed buildings
  • over development
  • excessive bulk and massing of the replacement buildings.

Following advice from Ecology Network, bat consultancy, Mount Anvil was required to publish a follow-up bat survey (demolition of Queen Mother’s Hall would not have been possible without this).

RedFrog identified prospective tenants wishing to take space in Kidderpore Hall and formed an alliance with St. Luke’s School and St. Margaret’s School, which both wished to preserve Queen Mother’s Hall.  An investigation commissioned by RedFrog into underground rivers and springs failed to reveal any potential water beneath the site.

Other steps taken included;

  • alerting Historic England, following the recent Streetscape drawings uploaded by Camden
  • alerting HRH Prince Charles
  • alerting the Green Party (which resulted in an objection)
  • representations to Alex Bushell, Manager Advice and Consultation Team, Camden
  • emails to Tulip Siddiq, MP
  • emails to Sir Simon Jenkins (acknowledged)
  • development of a petition: https://www.change.org/p/london-borough-of-camden-don-t-trash-our-site-of-interest-for-nature-conservation
  • demonstrations outside the SINC on 10 and 15 January.  The press attended on both occasions, resulting in good coverage in the Ham & High and Camden New Journal and to be covered in depth in the next Village Voice
  • drawing attention of the London Assembly Green party member to the destruction of the SINC.

A suggested letter of objection was circulated to members and development of an online petition, which attracted almost 500 signatures and publicity in the Ham & High and CNJ.

A deputation was made to the Development Control Committee on, following a protest on the steps of Camden Town Hall, Judd Street on 4.2.16.

Camden officers recommended approval of the application and Development Control Committee agreed the proposal.

Articles that relate to the campaign are available here:

Protest at scheme to build on deisgnated nature site-140116-Ham&High

Esther Rantzen and Tom Conti join protest to save wildlife haven-0116

Demonstration Petition 0216

King’s Gold – OurCity.London-0216

Decision on Kidderpore nature haven-0216

CNJ-061016