Developers in Turnmill appeal
PROPERTY developers will use the words of Islington’s own planning officers to appeal against the council’s refusal to allow the demolition of Clerkenwell’s landmark Turnmill building.
Derwent London announced this week they would appeal last month’s south area planning committee’s decision not to allow the building to be flattened.
The Town Hall’s planning department had recommended the plans be approved but after listening to a long list of objections, including a strong argument by Islington Council’s former head of conservation Alec Foreshaw, they turned it down.
Derwent London want to replace the building with a seven-storey glass office block but lost their argument after failing to convince the committee that the building was unmarketable.
Now, Derwent London director, David Silverman has announced: “We were disappointed by the decision at committee not to grant planning consent but given the extremely strong support for our scheme from senior planning officers at Islington Borough Council, we feel that an appeal is fully justified.”
Labour Councillor Martin Klute, who voted against the scheme, said: “The main grounds for refusing the application were based on it being an important building in a conservation area, but the conservation issues haven’t been properly addressed.”
Derwent London have described the 76,000 sq ft office scheme, proposed by architects Piercy Conner, as being “constructed with intricate brickwork and elegant white cast masonry”.
ROISIN GADELRAB