| |
 An artist’s impression of the redeveloped ‘super court’ |
Cash crisis sees ‘super court’ scheme hang in the balance
Fear that work is ‘grinding to a halt’ and street will be left with ‘gaping hole’
THE future of a new “super court” to be built in Marylebone has been plunged into doubt because Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) has not received the money needed to finance the project.
Bulldozers are poised to demolish Marylebone Magistrates’ Court but residents fear work is grinding to a halt over the funding shortfall caused by the delayed sell-off of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Horseferry Road.
Under a deal with contractors, the £60million cost of the new 10-court building is due to be met by the sale and redevelopment of the Horseferry site into a block of 150 luxury flats.
But with developers Barratt West London being sent back to the drawing board by planning chiefs, even if the sale does go ahead, the current slump in the property market could seriously diminish the value of the site.
It is the latest hold-up to beset the project following a tussle between residents and the HMCS that ended with a protracted public inquiry. After vociferous protests from Marylebone residents, who were supported by the council, the decision to save the converted Victorian baths was overturned by a government inspector in March.
The HMCS has played down fears of delays or a collapse, assuring residents that work will be completed by 2010 as forecast, despite hold-ups with the sale.
This has done little to convince residents, many of whom campaigned to save the former swimming baths only to have their hopes dashed.
Marylebone resident Verina Glaessner said: “To go ahead with the demolition when they haven’t got permission for the Horseferry Road site seems ludicrous. They haven’t even sold it.
“It’s bad enough they’re knocking it down but now we could be faced with a gaping hole on our doorstep and the very real prospect of them running out of cash, before they even start building. I think the council should at least get a guarantee that the deal has been done before they allow work to start.”
Ms Glaessner’s views are echoed by fellow resident Alan Wurtzel, who sits on the planning committee of the Marylebone Society.
He said: “Firstly we have real worries that the courts service don’t have the money to finance it. We want them to be more transparent because not only is it a local issue but it also threatens the legal system.
“With the property market the way it is I am worried that Barratt may not be able to sell off the flats, which would hold everything up.
“We just want a bit of transparency.”
Original plans for the famous courthouse in Horseferry Road were thrown out because developers did not include a flood risk assessment.
Mark Seymour, head of major projects at HMCS, said that although the two sites are linked contractually, the demolition and rebuild will go according to schedule.
He said: “In the contract structure the sell-off of the Horseferry Road site is attached to development of 181 Marylebone Road.
“Even while awaiting planning permission for Horseferry Road, there is no question that the demolition and rebuild will go ahead as planned.”
The new building has been hailed as the solution to Westminster’s archaic court facilities.
During the public inquiry campaign groups including the Victorian Society, the Marylebone Association and the St Marylebone Society opposed the plans, claiming the demolition would be a destruction of heritage.
The court encompasses a rare 19th-century civic complex and stands in the Portman Estate Conservation Area. |
 |
|
| |
| |
