The developers behind the South Bank’s controversial Elizabeth House scheme have been given the green light following a planning disagreement that became known as the ‘Battle of Waterloo.’
On one side were Chelsfield Partners and London Regional Properties together with architect Sir David Chipperfield. On the other were Westminster Council, English Heritage and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey. At stake was a £600 million mixed use development and Westminster’s UNESCO world heritage status.
The Elizabeth House plans include two towers of 29 and 10 storeys comprising offices, shops and 142 apartments next to Waterloo Station. Lambeth Council claims the scheme will provide jobs and homes for local people but Westminster Council and its allies object to the scheme on the grounds that it will spoil views of the Houses of Parliament.
However, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has dismissed the objections and insisted the decision must be made at a local level. As both Lambeth Council and the GLA have already approved the plans there appears little the objectors can now do to prevent construction going ahead.
Following the decision, Westminster Council’s deputy leader, Robert Davis expressed his disappointment that the government is allowing the ‘insensitive development’ to proceed.
He said; “This massive glassy building may be in Lambeth but it will be very visible from Parliament Square, and will be seen in important views of the Westminster world heritage site.”
He continued to complain that the government had failed to take heed of the fact that UNESCO have threatened to place Westminster on its ‘In Danger’ list if the development goes ahead, and that losing world heritage status would be ‘very bad news for the country.’
Planning Minister Nick Boles acknowledges that the proposal is ‘controversial’ but has arrived at the conclusion that there are no issues of a ‘strategic or policy nature’ to address.
The development will replace an existing 1960s office building that runs the length of Waterloo Station. Along with the commercial and residential elements, a new public space will be created in front of the station.
