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Bidders will be aware of the site planning brief
• THERE seems to be public misunderstanding, perhaps politically inspired, about the regeneration prospects for the Brill Place site, north of the British Library.
I have taken the time to read the actual planning brief (Midland Road Site, brief No 36 October 2003) and it specifies sensible parameters, as explained to the delegation to the full council meeting on Monday night by council leader, Keith Moffitt.
At para 5.6 it states that: “…The council therefore considers that the site should make a substantial contribution to the supply of both housing and community uses in the area. It will therefore be a requirement that 50 per cent or more of additional floorspace is for housing, and 50 per cent or more of housing to be affordable.”
And at 5.8: “The development of this site should maximise the opportunity to greatly improve the provision of community facilities in the area both to support the new development and meet identified local needs. Community facilities such as: floorspace for community use (eg meeting hall/office); healthcare facilities; community managed garden, would be considered as appropriate.”
The site is owned by the government – not Camden – and bids were invited several months ago.
Bidders will have been made aware of the above guidance, which Camden Council’s development control committee (on which I sit) is empowered to insist is fully complied with.
In my opinion, it would not be beneficial to the neighbourhood to build, as many demand, 100 per cent housing.
And, with respect to the above parameters, I cannot see how a medical research facility could possibly be compliant.
Paul Braithwaite
Lib Dem, Cantelowes Ward
It was for the library
• On the face of it your campaign for housing on the British Library site is admirable.
However, the fact that it is the British Library site is rather crucial.
This land was set aside for its second major phase.
When completed, the BL was to have housed all its books and manuscripts on one site, the very reason why St Pancras was chosen.
Without the second phase, the BL continues to be split between many sites.
But, inevitably I suppose, the government in its wisdom decided enough was enough and the proximity to the new Eurotunnel terminal at St Pancras, with the increase in value of the site as a result, has meant the unbuilt-on land will be sold to the highest bidder, almost certainly not for housing.
Perhaps a campaign to complete the most important national library in the world might have been a better one, with national support rather than just local pressure for a handful of flats.
Brian Lake
Jarndyce
Antiquarian Booksellers, WC1
Sale is one ‘condition’
• The Margaret Hodge letter of October 25 made the following points:
That there are not any conditions attached to the land behind the British Library site, but goes on to say the government is committed to selling it, which seems a condition to me.
Two, she goes on to say it will be sold to secure best public value for the taxpayer, which implies that the people who are protesting at the probability that it will be sold to the detriment of local people are not taxpayers.
This is the same Margaret Hodge who, as leader of Islington Council in the early 1990s, demanded that Camden Council include Islington in any benefits that might be gained on the Railway Lands site, simply because the boundary between Camden and Islington runs alongside the railways site in York Way.
The people of this borough are sick and tired of being lectured to like this.
Bob Austin
Tolmers Square, NW1
Mayor’s powers
• As a Camden resident and Green candidate for London mayor, I am increasingly concerned by the Brill Place saga.
This site is public land in an area with huge public needs and should not be sold for any purpose that will not result in the housing and community facilities urgently needed by the local population.
I support the campaigners and urge Camden Council to do the same. If the government does press ahead with a sale of the land, we still have the power to make sure the site is used for the community’s benefit.
Any planning applications would need to be assessed against the planning brief of 2003 and passed by the council and, on such a large site, they would also be likely to come under the mayor’s powers. If elected mayor, I will be extending London Plan affordable housing targets to at least 60 per cent, and will make sure these include a majority of rented homes.
Brill Place would not be an exception to these requirements. We were let down by Ken Livingstone over King’s Cross, but no proposals that fall short of the needs of the people of Somers Town would get the approval of a Green mayor.
Sian Berry
Green Party candidate for London Mayor, NW5
No to lab
• It is ludicrous in the 21st century that there is a possibility of a new animal-based research laboratory being built anywhere in the UK (Letters, October 25).
What is needed is a facility that uses human-based, accurate methods, many of which already exist, but for which funding is sadly low on the list of priorities of this government.
Many more methods could be developed with funding being diverted from erroneous and useless animal research that is holding back cures for human diseases.
Such a centre would be a coup not only for the UK, but for the borough, bringing overseas investment into the area, with advanced and accurate technology for finding cures rather than animal-based research.
Pamela Kinnunen
Purley Avenue, NW2
Stanley neglect
• My grandmother Victoria Maud Hewitt was born in Stanley Buildings 110 years ago on November 6, 1897. From this, I have a personal interest in the recent shameful neglect of these Grade II listed buildings.
I read in your newspaper of the half-baked proposals to screen Stanley Buildings with some artwork (Is this the house that Blake built? October 18), and that is why I am writing. I think it’s pathetic.
At the end of the day who is responsible for the current appearance of Stanley Buildings? Surely it’s Argent itself. In my opinion, it should be compelled to renovate the premises, starting today, and not be allowed to screen it off.
I think that the time has come for someone other than Argent to be given the task of restoring the buildings.
Nick Wermann
Caterham, Surrey
Campaign support
• On behalf of the Ingestre Road Estate, Tenants and Residents Association, please may we place on record our support for The Defend Council Housing campaign.
Privatisation does not bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
John Loughran
chair
Roy Nairne
treasurer
Michael Aylward
secretary
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