Annexe plan is foolish

Published: 16 December, 2010

• CAMDEN Council are planning to sell the Town Hall Annexe opposite St Pancras Station, and move their staff into a new building behind King’s Cross Station.  

We believe this is a foolish plan. First the council’s plan gives up a building right next door to, the town hall. The town hall and the annexe are as close as possible to the major traffic interchange at King’s Cross: easy to find and easy to reach.    

Like all buildings do eventually, the annexe has reached the age where it needs some major maintenance, but not demolition.  The annexe remains the correct size for the council’s office requirement, and has flexible, open plan configuration. It was designed as council offices and should continue in that role.

And what will happen to the annexe once it is sold?  

The council expect that it will be demolished and replaced with a 27-storey skyscraper. That will start a gold-rush of tower building along that section of the south of Euston Road. Is that what the local people want?

The council, rightly, exhort us all to “reduce waste and recycle more”. They can demonstrate that they do not view their building as a throwaway consumer item to be replaced with a shiny new one when it becomes tired. 

JOHN HARTLEY 
Crestfield Street, WC1