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Resident Workshops with the Architects: June 16-18
Hammerson, the developer, is inviting all Barbican residents to attend a
workshop in which their appointed architect, Ian Lomax of Make, and other
member of the project team will present his firm's latest proposals for the
scheme and be able to answer any questions. A letter is being delivered to
all flats in the Barbican from the developers about these workshops. We
strongly recommend you go to one of these sessions, if you possibly can. It
is a large site and a complex scheme, and the best way to appreciate it is
to see the plans, the models and hear it from the architect. There is
a limited number of places at each session, to keep groups relatively small,
and let everyone get close to the models and plans - but we understand more
sessions will be run, if demand exceeds capacity. The
sessions at at the City Marketing Suite, Basinghall Street (at the
South-eastern corner of the Guildhall complex) and are at the following
times:
Wednesday 16 June at 6.30pm Thursday
17 June at 6.30pm Friday
18 June at 10am and again at 12 noon. If you
would like to attend, please contact Sebastian Hanley on 020 7269 9357 or
email sebastian.hanley@fd.com
indicating your name, address (at the Barbican) and preferred time.
Progress
to date The
Barbican Association has set up a sub-group to monitor specifically the
proposals for the site and to ensure the developers are made aware of the
concerns of residents. So far, there have been three consultation meetings
between the BA's St Alphage group representatives from Hammerson, from Make,
their appointed architects and other members of the project team. So far,
the quality of the consultation has been good, and the team is paying
attention to our concerns. Whether they will be able to meet all of them
still remains to be seen. The latest plans offer an improvement in a number
of ways over both the failed 2008 project for JP Morgan, and an earlier
planning framework proposal in 2002: but there are still details we are not
so happy about. We have
also been able to arrange visits for the architects to over a dozen flats
all across the Estate, and Make will be using photos taken from people's
homes to be able to show, realistically, the impact of the new buildings
from people's windows and other points around the estate, like the highwalks
and gardens. Check for more news in the June issue of the Barbican Association Newsletter and for updates on this website.
St Alphage: JP
Morgan’s surprise pull out
On 1 August JP
Morgan unexpectedly pulled out of the St Alphage development and decided to
build its headquarters at
The press
reports quoted
Hammerson, the developer, as saying: “It
had become clear that the building that JPMorgan is looking to build and
occupy cannot be accommodated on the St Alphage site". That indeed was our
argument all along.
The St Alphage Group had been busy over the summer
compiling and issuing a briefing document to journalists, common councilmen,
and other interested people. So it put out a statement to all the people who
had received our briefing document, welcoming the decision but regretting
that JP Morgan was leaving the city.
In it Tim Macer said:
“We have
consistently held the view that what was proposed was inappropriate. The
proposed building was simply far too big for the site….we look forward now
to some imaginative proposals for a piece of architecture that will really
play to the strengths of this historically and culturally important site,
and allow it to earn its keep for the City.”
Hammersons and
the City still intend to redevelop the site, and the St Alphage Group has
already said that it hopes residents will be involved in discussions on what
would be suitable for the site.
The
City Surveyor was quoted in
Property Week as
saying that,
while JP Morgan’s decision was disappointing, other
occupiers could benefit from the work that had been done at the site.
‘We are much more able now to talk
about delivery of that size of building on that site and I think there are
some silver linings.’
Tim Macer of the Barbican Association St Alphage
Group, commented: “We have consistently held the view that what was proposed
was inappropriate. The proposed building was simply far too big for the
site. We are glad that JP Morgan has now reached the same conclusion.
However, the site still awaits redevelopment and we look forward now to some
imaginative proposals for a piece of architecture that will really play to
the strengths of this historically and culturally important site, and allow
it to earn its keep for the City. Jane Smith “People are often surprised to
learn that there is such a large residential community in the heart of City.
For 80 per cent of us, this is our main or only home. We care passionately
about the City and we are sad that one outcome of this is that JP Morgan
will be leaving the City.The St Alphage
Group isn’t planning on disbanding just yet.
About the BA St Alphage Group
The BA has formed a subgroup – the Barbican Association St Alphage Group
– to focus residents’ objections to the JPMorgan plans. The BA realised
from the outset that objecting simply because the proposal may be
considered monstrous by many, would never succeed. BA is not against the
redevelopment of the site, or any other site adjoining the Barbican, but
against inappropriate development.
The BA St Alphage Group has since then been undertaking extensive
research, and has engaged several specialists to advise on factual
grounds for opposition; these include right-to-light consultants and
building and planning advisors. It is also lobbying officials and
elected representatives at all levels and making information available
to them and to the news media. The group's primary purpose is to be
ready as soon as a scheme is submitted for formal planning permission,
with all the arguments needed in order to object objectively and ensure
that the scheme is substantially adapted to meet our concerns.
The group has eight members appointed by the BA, to represent house
groups from across the estate, and is being led by Tim Macer, a
Willoughby House resident and elected member of the BA
General Council.
Tim can be contacted by telephone on 020 3291 2938 or by email to
alphage@inclusivity.eu
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