Please sign this petition and help save precious public open space in Spitalfields.

The Church of England and London Borough of Tower Hamlets have given permission for the local primary school to build in the churchyard right next to Hawksmoor's famous Christ Church Spitalfields. This is in spite of some 350 letters of objection including from those with expert knowledge.

This means that public open space in the churchyard is being reduced by more than 60%: from about 4,000 sqm to around 1,500 sqm. 

The disused burial ground, including the school playground, has been and still is protected and held on charitable trust by LBTH, who must manage and control the burial ground to allow the enjoyment by the public of the open space. 

There is no need to build in the churchyard so close to one of the finest baroque churches in Europe. There are suitable alternatives for any development that the church and school might require. To build on this site is cultural and environmental vandalism.

Spitalfields is in the most densely populated area of London. Public green space here is already very scarce indeed.

Scientific research demonstrates that lack of green space adversely affects physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and adults alike.

Green space is vital in balancing the effect of climate change in the inner city, where temperatures average 6 degrees C higher than outside.

The churchyard is the Setting for Christ Church Spitalfields, Hawksmoor’s Grade 1 Listed Designated Heritage Asset (as defined by the Government’s Planning Policy Statement 5) on which £10 million has recently been spent. The churchyard itself is a Heritage Asset, and a crucial part of the Significance of Christ Church Spitalfields.

Help save this precious green space NOW or lose it for ever.