Camden Planners Attempt Power Grab in Latest Planning Reforms
he central government is mandating that certain types of minor planning applications can no longer reach planning committee, effective from November 2026. But Camden’s planners are using this as a pretext to effectively abolish any councillor oversight or meaningful community involvement on almost all planning decisions, going significantly further than that recommended by central government.
Continue reading Camden Planners Attempt Power Grab in Latest Planning Reforms
Council Leader Loses Seat
Holborn & Covent Garden has turned Green. All Labour councillors standing for the area, including the leader, Richard Olszewski, have lost their seats. Kings Cross remains Labour, while the Bloomsbury count is not in. More to follow… Continue reading Council Leader Loses Seat
Planning Breaches in Camden Remain Out of Control
A 5-year review of a sample of 96 commercial sites finds 48% with an outstanding planning breach. For every breach resolved, 3 further were committed.
Continue reading Planning Breaches in Camden Remain Out of Control
Inappropriate Development in Camden Likely to Increase in Coming Years
The latest statistics regarding Camden’s housing delivery show a significant shortfall against their mandated requirement in the Local Plan. Until this shortfall is rectified, Camden planners now have reduced powers to refuse major development proposals.
Continue reading Inappropriate Development in Camden Likely to Increase in Coming Years
New Conservation and Design Practice
Hello all. I am posting to let you know I have set up a new architectural design and conservation practice. Ward Conservation & Design Practical conservation and architectural work is what I have been spending most of my time on lately. I’ve set up my own practice to focus on Bloomsbury and Covent Garden and… Continue reading New Conservation and Design Practice
Conservation and Conflict in Bloomsbury and Covent Garden – MSc Dissertation
I have attached my dissertation as per the above title for general reading, commentary, and as a future reference for anyone studying the area. It seeks to answer just one question – why do the community and local authority conflict in the conservation of Bloomsbury and Covent Garden? Readers of this blog will know that… Continue reading Conservation and Conflict in Bloomsbury and Covent Garden – MSc Dissertation
Selkirk House Judicial Review – A Commentary
Many have noted that I have not posted on this blog for a long time, and that is principally because nothing new has really happened since the local elections in 2022. There have, of course, been several major applications, including Selkirk House, Odeon on Shaftesbury Avenue, and Tavis House, along with a plethora of more… Continue reading Selkirk House Judicial Review – A Commentary
Heritage
‘Planning Lawlessness’ as Camden Fails to Investigate Hundreds of Illegal Alterations to Historic Buildings
Round-the-clock work by planners and conservationists in Bloomsbury is at risk of becoming a farce as the BCAAC’s recent enforcement surveys indicate the majority of buildings in Bloomsbury have been illegally altered over the past ten years.
Camden Breaches its Constitution for Third Time in Three Months
Over the course of three months Camden’s planning department has breached the local authority’s constitution three times, illegally approving planning applications without the mandatory scrutiny of elected councillors.
Continue reading Camden Breaches its Constitution for Third Time in Three Months
330 Gray’s Inn Road Tower Rubber Stamped
The enormous redevelopment scheme at 330 Gray’s Inn Road is the latest inappropriate planning application to have been rubber stamped by Camden’s Rubber Stamp Committee.
Camden’s ‘Public Engagement’ is a Total Farce
Camden’s public engagement is a total farce. What can be done to take back control?
Continue reading Camden’s ‘Public Engagement’ is a Total Farce
The Conservatives are Likely Bloomsbury’s only Hope in 2022
Love them or hate them, it is looking increasingly likely that the Conservatives will be the only party to mount a convincing challenge to the Labour ignorocracy in 2022.
Continue reading The Conservatives are Likely Bloomsbury’s only Hope in 2022
Camden ‘Blindly Approving’ the Majority of Planning Applications, with Delays of Months and Years
Camden has been approving the majority of planning applications without even reading them fully, due to unprecedented planning demand.
Local Politics
May 5 Elections: Will Anything Change?
The problems themselves are clear to all – but what ties them all together, and why does it seem so inevitable and impossible for those problems to be fixed?
Infamous ‘London Streetspace’ Quashed in High Court
“I conclude that the decision-making processes … were seriously flawed, and the decisions were not a rational response to the issues which arose as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.” – Mrs Justice Lang
Continue reading Infamous ‘London Streetspace’ Quashed in High Court
Bloomsbury Environment Awards 2020
As we come to the end of 2020, it is time to celebrate the best of the changes made to the world-famous environment of Bloomsbury.
COVID and LTN Sagas have Exposed True Extent of Camden’s ‘Local Tyranny’
The ongoing controversies surrounding Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and road closures under cover of COVID have exposed the true extent of Camden’s ‘local tyranny’, but also its utter incompetence. Only the Camden’s arrogance can be blamed for the spectacular failure of its schemes.
Continue reading COVID and LTN Sagas have Exposed True Extent of Camden’s ‘Local Tyranny’
Long Read: Camden and Developers too Close for Comfort
Opinion: The Outernet planning decision reaffirms that Camden’s special relationship with major development companies has crossed the line.
Continue reading Long Read: Camden and Developers too Close for Comfort
Inside Information: Members’ Briefing Panel
Interviews with senior Camden councillors has settled the Members Briefing Panel Controversy. Part 4 of a 4 part series, featured in the Planning in London magazine.
Continue reading Inside Information: Members’ Briefing Panel
Camden
Outrage as Camden Recommends Bedford Square Glass Extension for Approval
Camden refuses application for a disabled couple’s lift as causing ‘too much harm’ to a Grade II terrace. But weeks later a glass conservatory at the Grade I Bedford Square is recommended for approval.
Continue reading Outrage as Camden Recommends Bedford Square Glass Extension for Approval
‘The Door Wars’: Residents Prevail over Council in Battle over Pointless Door Replacements
Residents of a housing block in Red Lion Square have prevailed over the council in a battle over ‘mandatory’ door replacements to their homes.
£425K Funding Bid for Safer Streets in Central London
A coalition of community associations and politicians led by a Bloomsbury resident has made a £425,000 bid to install CCTV and create a ‘digital neighbourhood watch’ across Camden’s Central London area.
Continue reading £425K Funding Bid for Safer Streets in Central London
Bloomsbury Skyscraper Developer Taking Council and Residents for Fools
Bloomsbury skyscraper developers reject negotiation and instead offer large opposition group a ‘chance to have a say on street level gardening’.
Continue reading Bloomsbury Skyscraper Developer Taking Council and Residents for Fools
Veolia Caught Fly Tipping
Veolia’s operatives have this afternoon been implicated in a fly-tipping incident on Judd Street in King’s Cross.
‘The Georgians Didn’t Have Lifts’: Disabled Man could be Forced out of home Following Rejection of Planning Application
A family in King’s Cross fear they will be forced out of their historic home after planners rejected an application for a lift at the rear of their property.
Sunday Reflections
Making a Difference: A ‘Camden Voice’?
Conservation, community, news, tech… how can all these things be made into something useful and influential? I argue that a grassroots ‘Camden Voice’ could be the way forward.
The Future of Save Bloomsbury
Where to go with Save Bloomsbury? I want to know what you think I should write about.
Camden Needs Your Help
Opinion: Camden needs the motivation and activism of Bloomsbury’s residents to perform public duties properly. But dependence upon overdevelopment is destroying the trust of Bloomsbury’s communities.
How can our Local Politicians Represent us if they aren’t Local?
Freedom of Information response reveals less than half of Bloomsbury’s nine councillors live anywhere near Bloomsbury.
Continue reading How can our Local Politicians Represent us if they aren’t Local?
More
MSc Research – Conservation in Bloomsbury and Covent Garden
Dear Bloomsburyites, Apologies for my long absence on this blog. I have been doing a lot of work in conservation and architecture, both locally and worldwide, spending some time in India working on world heritage sites and the like. I have also been undertaking an MSc in Sustainable Heritage at UCL, and working as a… Continue reading MSc Research – Conservation in Bloomsbury and Covent Garden
Historic England pull their Finger out for Selkirk House
For the first time since the extinction of the dinosaurs the national public body charged with protecting our historic environment has objected to a planning application in Camden.
Continue reading Historic England pull their Finger out for Selkirk House
Veolia Sweepers Found Shopping for TVs
With the lifting of lockdown, customers have returned to London’s commercial centres in surprising numbers, with Oxford Street looking just as packed as usual on the very first Monday of restrictions easing. Not wanting to miss out on grabbing a bargain, it seems some of Veolia’s sweepers forwent their sweeping duties to spend Monday morning… Continue reading Veolia Sweepers Found Shopping for TVs
Camden to Cut Heads of Staff
Camden Council have today announced that they will be cutting a number of heads of staff in response to significant funding pressures.
South Camden News Site in the Pipeline
In response to popular demand I have this week been working on a news site for the three South Camden Wards.
Beautiful Victorian Hospital Destroyed
In an horrific act of urban vandalism, the former Royal Free Hospital on Gray’s Inn Road has been almost entirely demolished, as part of an application granted by Camden Council last year.
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