KING'S CROSS REGENERATION GETS GO-AHEAD FROM CAMDEN COUNCIL

10 March 2006

The regeneration of King's Cross has been given the go-ahead by Camden Council, as it granted planning permission for the re-development at a meeting last night (9 March 2006).

The council's Development Control Sub-Committee approved the outline planning applications by developer Argent for the 67 acre 'King's Cross Central' brown field site. Camden Council has secured an exciting regeneration package that reflects many of the views received during its extensive consultation, and has more affordable housing, green open space and health and community facilities than originally proposed. It has also prioritised the highest urban design principles and ambitious requirements to meet high environmental and sustainability standards.

Cllr Raj Chada, Leader of Camden Council said:

"Camden Council is committed to an exciting regeneration of King's Cross and our strong negotiations have delivered the best development for local people, as well as other Londoners. This decision means that our vision of bringing jobs, housing, leisure and community facilities for local people to King's Cross, will become a reality. The redevelopment will recognise and protect King's Cross' valuable architectural heritage whilst creating a sustainable and attractive future environment. King's Cross will become a new quarter for London that takes advantage of the best transport links in the city, which is of huge importance to the capital and the South East, as well as the 2012 Olympics."

He added:

"Camden Council has been working hard to overcome the problems and uncertainties that have blighted King's Cross in the past, cutting all crime by more than 40 per cent and almost halving unemployment in the last five years. The regeneration of King's Cross is set to transform the life and economy of local people and Londoners."

Cllr Heather Johnson, Chair of the Development Control Sub-Committee, Camden Council said:

"Camden Council has made a decision for King's Cross that balances local people's need for housing, jobs, leisure and community facilities against consideration of the site's outstanding transport links, rich architectural heritage, need for high quality design and the London economy. There has been an excellent response from local people and other agencies during the five-year consultation, prompting six or seven times the replies received by other large developments such as Stratford or Wembley, with a much higher proportion coming from local people. The Committee has carefully considered the results of the extensive consultation alongside its detailed assessment of the planning applications against planning policy."

The decision follows five years of extensive and recognised consultation during which local residents, businesses and other interested groups have been asked for their views to help shape the future of King's Cross. At each round of consultation on the applications, Camden Council sent more than 30,000 letters to individuals and groups, as well as running many workshops, exhibitions, meetings, road shows and a poster campaign, to seek out local people's views. The council has also worked closely with a wide range of partners including the London Borough of Islington, Transport for London, the Mayor of London and English Heritage to set out a clear regeneration agenda for this important site.

The redevelopment will include:

• An estimated 25,000 jobs with training schemes to allow local people to compete successfully for them
• A total of 1946 new homes, more than 40 per cent of which will be affordable, the highest for a development in London, and up to 650 units of student accommodation
• New community, sports, leisure and retail facilities, including: a pre-school children's centre and nursery; play facilities; primary school; two health care centres; leisure centre with 25m swimming pool; indoor sports hall; multi use games area; community centre, employment and training centres
• Three new green public spaces, plus new landscaped squares and well-designed and accessible streets, forming almost 40 per cent of the site
• The protection and enhancement of the area's unique architectural heritage, including restoring landmark buildings such as the No. 8 Gasholder, the Gasholder Triplet, the Granary, and the South Stanley Building, to new uses
• Environmentally sustainable considerations such as a public bicycle interchange and storage spaces; energy efficient building design and use of renewable energy, including scope for using wind turbines, solar panels and intelligent lighting; conserved and enhanced habitats along the canal and additional ones on green roofs
• Shopping and entertainment areas up to 45,925 sqm and new business and employment floorspace up to 455,510 sqm

As with all major development planning applications, Camden Council's decision is now subject to referral of the application to the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State. It is also subject to the Section 106 agreement and the conditions set out in the planning report.

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