Letters to the Editor - Investment in the future of King’s Cross continues

Published: 6 May, 2010

• I AGREE everyone should take a good look at King’s Cross Central. particularly Ernest James (Letters, April 22).
His characterisation of the site as deserted and semi-abandoned is wrong.
In the three years since the King’s Cross Central Partnership started work (immediately after a legal challenge, supported by
Mr James, was dismissed) we have:
• built and handed over an award-winning construction skills centre;
• realigned Pancras Road;
• completed the arcading works to the listed (but disused) Great Northern Hotel;
• signed a deal to bring the Great Northern Hotel back to life in 2012 as a 93-bed boutique hotel;
• worked with Network Rail to build an underground shared service yard for King’s Cross Station and future buildings within our scheme;
• signed a deal to deliver the first 284 affordable homes at King’s Cross Central;
• ‘topped out” on the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Eastern Goods Yard (of which the Granary Building, referred to by Mr James, is only one part), to provide a new home for the 4,500 students and staff of the University of the Arts London, who move in September 2011;
• completed an Energy Centre to accommodate combined heat and power engines, boilers and other infrastructure to provide the heat for the development and offset 79 per cent of its power requirements;
• been building roads, public spaces and other infrastructure; and
• designed and submitted for approval over 2 million sq ft of buildings equivalent to one quarter of the entire scheme.
Later this year, we will be starting to build new housing (100 per cent affordable) along York Way and, all being well, starting construction of the “Boulevard” to link the Eastern Goods Yard with the transport interchange. (The bridge over the canal is already in place.) We are also working up detailed designs for student housing, in partnership with a leading operator.
Subject to planning, we aim to have this on site next year.
Mr James implies that only public money is keeping the project going.
Again, he’s wrong.
The partnership investors, Argent, Hermes, LCR and Exel, have already spent or committed £150million to the ongoing works and we will be reinvesting another £50million, to deliver the Boulevard and other important infrastructure.
Meanwhile, we’re talking seriously to a number of major companies and organisations about moving into King’s Cross.
Yes it’s tough, but we have a great offer, including buildings that are “ready to go”.
The criticism that 8 million sq ft has not somehow sprung up overnight is misinformed and misplaced.
This has always been billed as a 12 to 15-year project but nobody is keener than us to finish it faster. The partnership has geared up very quickly, particularly so given the economic conditions; and we are pushing on to do more.
We have also supported temporary uses. Our skip garden project has been created and gardened by volunteers from the Guardian, Observer, construction apprentices and other local people.
A local charity, Global Generation, is managing the project.
Our arts programme has hosted projects by ArtAngel, Sadler’s Wells and Judith Cowans at the German Gymnasium, Midlands Good Shed and Fish and Coal buildings respectively.
We are hosting the Reveal Festival with CreateKX and planning further collaborations with Sadler’s Wells.
We have an ongoing collaboration with the Arts Council and are hosting our second artist in residence (Graham Hudson).
Mr James suggests a temporary swimming/ pool sports centre, a temporary exhibition centre and temporary parkland. Our focus is on delivering long-term, permanent facilities. Hopefully, one of the first new buildings south of the canal will be new civic offices for Camden Council, with a major public leisure facility including a swimming pool.
We are talking to organisations who want to deliver world class exhibition and gallery spaces at King’s Cross and our public realm priorities include “Cubitt Park” at the very centre of the scheme and the re-erection of Gas Holder 8 as a new events space and public park.
Bell, Philips and Kimble won an open design competition for the latter. You can see their winning entry on our website www.kingcrosscentral.com and in the German Gymnasium.
Finally, the suggestion that the outline planning permission runs out in 12 months’ time is complete nonsense.
The outline planning permission provides the basis for continuing investment in King’s Cross for many, many years to come.
ROBERT EVANS
Director, Argent
For the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership