ST GILES REDEVELOPMENT GETS GO-AHEAD

11 July 2006

The regeneration of St Giles Court (WC2), a major site in the heart of London’s West End close to Centrepoint and Covent Garden, has been given the go-ahead by Camden Council. It resolved to grant planning permission for the re-development at a meeting on Thursday (6 July 2006).

The council's Development Control Committee approved the planning application by landowner Legal and General Securities and architect Renzo Piano for a 66,000m2 mixed use development. Camden Council has secured a strong regeneration package that will provide more than 100 new homes, 53 of which are affordable. It will also include a mixture of restaurant, retail, community and business facilities that will revitalise the area, as well as street improvements to make it more attractive for anyone walking through.

Cllr Andrew Marshall, Executive Member for Equalities and Community Development, Camden Council said:

"Camden Council’s decision on St Giles Court means we can provide much-needed regeneration to a wide area around this neglected site, and our strong legal agreement will ensure that the developer will deliver what is promised. The scheme provides new homes and jobs, and significant improvements to local streets and public spaces, with high quality design that is sensitive to the important local heritage.”

Cllr Dawn Somper, Chair of the Development Control Committee, Camden Council added:

“We listened to the results of the local public consultation and fed these into the council’s strong negotiations with the developer, so we have met local and national planning policies and can look forward to a new future for St Giles High Street.”

The council carried out three rounds of public consultation - with local people, residents and community associations, as well as heritage organisations, conservation area committees and other interested groups - to help shape the future of St Giles. This led to the developer submitting revised applications in October 2005 and January 2006. The Greater London Authority, English Heritage and CABE supported the revised scheme.

The existing 10-storey office block - vacated in 2005 by the Ministry of Defence -will be demolished. It will be replaced with a development made up of new commercial and residential buildings, between eight and 16 storeys in height, set around a publicly accessible central courtyard. The development will include:

• More than 100 units of new housing, including 53 homes with a mixture of one to five bedroom flats
• Business and office space, shops, restaurants and cafes
• Funding to help local people find training and jobs
• A community space, £200,000 for community safety schemes, and a contribution for schools
• Improvements to St Giles-in-the-Field churchyard, including replacement heritage railings, forecourt and seating areas
• Improvements to nearby Phoenix Gardens, including a larger multi-use games area and enhanced play facilities
• Extensions to the existing public space at Princes Circus; enhancements to St Giles High Street including widening pavements; and other street improvements in the surrounding area
• Energy efficiency, water consumption and renewable energy measures
  

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