Our press releases are grabbing national attention!
Social housing tenants on London’s South Bank welcome the Secretary of State for Housing, Michael Gove MP issuing an Article 31 holding directive to Lambeth Council after they disappointingly approved a controversial planning application for the re-development of the former ITV studios on Upper Ground. This means that the Council are temporarily frozen from granting planning permission whilst Michael Gove considers whether to ‘call-in’ the planning application for his own determination.
Whilst this is a positive development, an Article 31 Directive does not mean that the Secretary of State has decided to call in the application. It simply prevents planning permission from being granted whilst Michael Gove and the National Planning Casework Unit, which advises him, consider the matter. The Secretary of State can call a matter in any time before planning permission is issued. This process is separate from but concurrent with Sadiq Khan, London Mayor’s consideration.
The action group #SOS Save Our South Bank of local social housing residents and stakeholders in SE1 are united in their opposition to the extremely unpopular proposals. This group has been building momentum over 12 months to bring this local issue to national attention through TV, radio, social media, press and community action petition.
People are encouraged to express opposition to the redevelopment plans by writing directly to Sadiq Khan, London Mayor mayor@london.gov.uk asking him to ‘call-in’ the planning application.
David Hopkins, Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB) said: "People across London should welcome Michael Gove's intervention on this proposal. The much-loved South Bank is one of the world's great public spaces. Our hope is for a fundamental re-think to protect this area of such importance to the nation, Londoners and the local community that live here”.
Michael Ball, Waterloo Community Development Group (WCDG) said: “This disastrously ugly project warrants the kind of scrutiny only a public inquiry can provide. If it goes ahead the scheme would be a permanent eyesore on steroids. We hope that this is a step toward Michael Gove truly putting into action his championing of beauty, belonging, communities and democracy by calling this grotesquery in".
The SOS Save Our South Bank campaign has been gathering momentum and reached a turning point this week attracting local, consumer and national press. Our local stakeholders have been involved in this story from the beginning which is covered today by BBC News.
If you have not done so already, please write to London Mayor, Sadiq Khan asking him to 'call in' the planning application.