Boris Johnson Approves Controversial Spitalfields Development

Posted on 15 October, 2012 by Neil Bird

London Mayor Boris Johnson has approved a controversial development that will involve the partial demolition of a historic Spitalfields building. The mayor made the decision despite the fact that Tower Hamlets council has twice rejected the application which has been vigorously opposed by a campaign led by TV historian Dan Cruickshank.

 

The London Fruit and Wool Exchange, built in 1929 will now be demolished to make way for an office and retail development that is expected to create 2,300 new jobs. As a result the 60 small businesses currently based in the building will have to leave by November – only the facade will remain.

Opponents of the development, who claim the plan will result in the loss of Dorset Street, home to Wedgwood’s first showroom and the site of Jack the Ripper’s final murder, shouted “shame on you” as the Mayor used his powers to overrule the council’s earlier decision.

Mr Johnson defended his intervention by claiming that the facade will be restored to its “former glory” and that the new offices and shops will “regenerate the Spitalfields area with thousands of new jobs and brand new commercial opportunities.” He added that the wider London economy will also benefit.

BBC broadcaster and local resident John Nicholson is another opponent of the Spitalfields development.

He said; “Tower Hamlets Council have ruled twice that the building should be retained, across party lines which is most unusual.

“But Boris Johnson has this extraordinary power. He can step in and decide that he is going to act as the planning officer for any building in London.

“It’s a developer’s fantasy, not least because Boris Johnson has voted for the developers in 100 per cent of cases.”

A spokesperson for the mayor claimed that he had listened to submissions from both sides of the argument before arriving at his decision.

 




Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Recent Posts

Interest Rates Impact on Commercial Property

Commercial Property Investment Outlook for 2023

The best places to stay on the Riviera

The latest property data has identified Newquay as the fastest property seller’s market in the UK

Investing in your garden can increase your property’s value

French Riviera temping high-end homebuyers

How can the ownership rights of my commercial property impact a business sale?

Should I incorporate virtual property viewings permanently?

Investment expected to increase across Asia-Pacific in 2021

UK property industry slows as the conclusion of tax break looms

BNP Paribas cautioned investors on Friday as debt-trading bonanza that increased its earnings this past year

Over 300,000 property purchases fell through in 2020 – we show the most frequent motives and the best way to get your house sale back on track

House Prices in the Capital Surpass £500,000

Optimism from the Bank of England’s chief economist

The most expensive commercial properties.

Businesses operating from shared premises will miss out on grants