King’s Cross skyscraper ‘a blot on the landscape’

Published: 30 September, 2010
by DAN CARRIER

A 27-storey tower block that critics say is more suited to downtown Manhattan than King’s Cross has been earmarked for York Way.  

Developers King’s Cross Central, who are building homes and offices on the 67-acre  Railwaylands site behind the stations, have applied for planning permission even though earlier guidelines ruled buildings should not go higher than 14 floors.

Designers at Glenn Howells Architects say it will offer “superb living conditions” for nearly 700 students and will help take the pressure off the private rental market.

Architect Dev Bansal said he accepts the high-rise scheme goes against earlier planning decisions, but insisted it will offer a key new landmark and other buildings in the same stretch will be a similar size.

He said: “We have challenged the height laid out in the original masterplan. Twenty-­seven storeys is a tall building but it is not a sky-scraper.”

Mr Bansal also added that the decision to ask for a taller building was not driven by squeezing as many people on the site as possible. He said: “The height is not about how many people we can get on there.”

Mr Bansal added that tests had taken place to ensure it casts a shadow only across railway lines.

But King’s Cross Conservation Area Advisory Committee chairman Ernest James claimed the design has been driven purely by profit.

He said: “The developer should leave a mark on the landscape, not a blot. The financial needs of this developer means they are trying to squeeze as many people in. 

“It is far too high and will be bad news for the many historic and listed buildings in the area, and bad news for people living here who will have this monolithic design greeting them as they step out of their front doors each morning. We want to see the council’s planning committee stand up to the developers on this.”

The King’s Cross Development Forum will discuss the designs at a meeting tonight (Thursday) at the Town Hall in Judd Street, starting at 7pm. 

Its chairman Geoffrey Roper said he was concerned with the layout of the tower’s rooms.

“It is rather mean in size and heights,” he added. “They will be used by arts students who bring home their work. 

“We are also concerned about the effect the buildings have on services in the area. ­People will be moving into the student blocks and social housing first – these people will need transport, shops – and we are anxious they are putting in homes without  the associated services alongside them yet.”

Natalie Bennett, who stood for the Green Party in Holborn and St Pancras during the general election and is now a member of the St Pancras and Somers Town Planning Action pressure group, said: “This plan is wildly inappropriate. 

“This utterly undistinguished grey monolithic block could be in no way said to be a positive addition to the landscape, particularly given its proximity to Grade II-listed Granary and Grade I-listed King’s Cross and St Pancras station.”