Battle lines are drawn over offices plan for former RM Site

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Battle lines are drawn over offices plan for former Royal Mail site in New Oxford Street

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A COALITION of community groups campaigning against plans to turn a disused postal building into a vast office block have vowed to fight on.

Camden Council have now given the proposals the green-light.

Plans to convert the former Royal Mail sorting office in New Oxford Street into a steel and glass-fronted block and provide 21 “affordable homes” were met with fierce hostility from residents of Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia and scores wrote to the Town Hall in objection ahead of a hearing on Thursday that saw the plans passed.

After the vote, resident Helena Roden, who had argued against the proposals, said: “We are not going to give up and are taking a look at the possibility of a judicial review.”

Addressing councillors earlier in the evening, Ms Roden said that the groups – including South Bloomsbury Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, Covent Garden Community Association, the Bloomsbury Association, Seven Dials Trust and Tavistock Chambers TRA – were “unanimous in our condemnation of this huge, bulky, glass and steel office block in such sensitive position”.

She added: “We are not in Basingstoke or the City of London. This proposal is 200 steps from the British Museum, 60 steps from Grade I-listed St George’s Church.”

Royal Mail moved out of the site more than 20 years ago and it has since been used for occasional art shows and installa­tions, but has spent much of the time lying vacant.

English Heritage wrote to the council to voice their support for the redevelopment, which they said would have a “positive impact on this redundant building”. The 20th Century Society and Save Britain’s Heritage objected to the works.

Lisa Web from property firm Gerald Eve, on behalf of developers Brockton Capital said: “We have consulted extensively on this project and listened to feedback and we have made significant changes to the scheme. My client’s response is to take a redundant eyesore and use its fundamental qualities to create an active street frontage, enhance the public realm, deliver offices and new affordable homes all within a building volume in keeping with the area and adjacent buildings,” she said.