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Bid to save Guildhall interior
Herirtage group mounts challenge to prevent Supreme Court redevelopment
A ROW has broken out between heritage groups over the decision to gut Middlesex Guildhall and build a state-of-the-art Supreme Court in Parliament Square.
The proposed £30 million building will act as the final court of appeal for civil and criminal cases with the current 12 Law Lords serving as first justices. It is expected to open in 2009.
The charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage said the decision to strip the Grade-II listed building was “unbelievable” – and would never have been granted for a private development.
The development will mean ripping out the interiors of the historic courtrooms.
SAVE are taking the decision to judicial review later this month.
Adam Wilkinson, who is leading the campaign, said: “If this was a private development on a Grade-II listed site this would never have got through on heritage grounds. Our date for judicial review is March 26 – I just hope we get a judge who likes the building.
“It is the best Gothic revival building of its period.”
In 2004 English Heritage classed the three main court interiors as “unsurpassed by any other courtroom of the period in terms of the quality and completeness of their fittings”.
But now the government agency is backing plans that will destroy them.
Mr Wilkinson said this was “odd”. He added: “It is very odd that English Heritage back the plans because if you look at their appraisal they are very clear that no damage should be done to the building.
“It looks like they have had tremendous pressure put on them by the Government.
“I think Westminster Council’s pride may have come into the decision – they want the Supreme Court badly.”
Department for Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said in a statement: “The Judicial Review is about the way in which the issues were presented by Westminster planning officers to the committee and, as a result, whether there was an error in law in the way that Westminster Council reached its decision.
“My department and I are fully supportive of Westminster Council.”
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