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Leicester Square, £18m later
Ross Lydall, City Hall Editor10.01.08
Leicester Square is famous for film premieres, where Hollywood stars come to promote their latest blockbusters.
Now fans of the landmark piazza are facing a repeat showing - of plans to transform the area into a "world-class" destination.
Westminster council will make its third attempt in six years to showcase the area as the "star-studded" home of cinema when it puts a new vision out to consultation.
The centrepiece of the £18.5 million plan is a 657ft white granite "ribbon" seat on which some of the estimated 250,000 daily visitors to the square could take a rest.
Other proposals include rebuilding the half-price ticket booth - first proposed in 2005 - installing decorative lighting and planting flowers and trees in the nine streets that provide access.
The cost would be met with £3 million from Mayor Ken Livingstone and £7.75 million each from Westminster and the Heart of London alliance of major local businesses.
The Tory-run council first published a Leicester Square action plan in 2002. This ushered in al-fresco dining, CCTV cameras and a uniformed council presence to rid the area of its "squalid" reputation.
Plans in 2003 to give the square's north side a facelift and in 2005 to replace the central garden with a sunken performance area were ditched after opposition from English Heritage.
Westminster council leader Sir Simon Milton said: "This is the best chance of making something happen. We have got the funding profile and, assuming the consultation goes well, we will be ready to put our spade in the ground on 31 March."
He said businesses were prepared to invest in the area following the introduction of 24-hour policing and a decline in the number of late-night clubs.
Sir Simon said: "We have turned Leicester Square from a squalid and intimidating place to somewhere where there is hope for the future and people are willing to invest. When we have done all the refurbishment it will be one of London's best public spaces."
Sarah Porter, chief executive of Heart of London, said: "The first stages of the action plan have been implemented - the 'safe, secure and clean' agenda.
"Compared with how it was years ago, the square is a very safe place to be considering the number of people who go through it."
Leicester Square is home to four cinemas with four others located on side streets. It hosts about 50 premieres each year. Figures from "footfall" cameras reveal its popularity - 400,000 people passed through the square between 9pm on New Year's Eve and 3am on New Year's Day.
Ms Porter said: "We want Leicester Square to be a place loved by Londoners, where you don't just pass through but linger and enjoy what is a truly unique space. These inspirational designs will cement its reputation as the UK's home of entertainment."
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There is of course a Restrictive Covenant protecting Leicester Square as an open space. The covenant is enforceable by various owners of land surrounding the square to this day.
The covenant is an important one and helped to strengthen property law in this country.
The case is "Tulk v Moxhay" (1848) - it is still good law.
The covenant states:
"that (the covenantor) his heirs and assigns should, and would from time to time, and at all times thereafter at his and their own costs and charges, keep and maintain the said piece of ground and square garden, and the iron railing round the same in its then form, and in sufficient and proper repair as a square garden and pleasure ground, in an open state, uncovered with any buildings, in neat and ornamental order".
The covenant burdens the land and benefits the surrounding land.
Planning permission does not necessarily mean that the Lands Tribunal (the only judicial body with the power to modify such covenants) would modify or discharge the covenant, especially as this case is one every law student is introduced to as the basis for enforcing covenants against successive owners of the burdened land in this country and beyond.
Acquiescence to breaches of covenants can be dangerous. What might come next? Often, one breach leads to another.
- Victor Mishiku, London, UK
Judging from your photograph, the plan will take Leicester Square back in time. Surely, if Leicester Square is to be re-designed it should become an iconic example of modern landscape architecture. Back to the future is a waste of time!
- Tom, London, UK
First thing to do is lose all those god awful vomit-holes masquerading as pubs.
Only then can they turn Leicester Square into a 'world-class destination', rather than the Friday night sick-sink it is as the moment.
- Ed Bradshaw, London, UK
