Morning:
8°c
Fight to save eight Piccadilly buildings
Katharine Barney6 May 2009
CAMPAIGNERS are fighting to save eight landmark buildings in a conservation area. The properties, in Piccadilly and Jermyn Street, include the first Lyons tearoom, which opened in 1894.
They are to be knocked down for a £500million development of the area.
Heloise Brown, conservation adviser for the Victorian Society, said upgrading the buildings was better than their "needless destruction".
The buildings affected are 212-214 Piccadilly; 21a, 22 and 23 Jermyn Street; and 3-4 Eagle Place. The Lyons tearoom was part of what is now the Japan Centre at 212-213 Piccadilly. The Victorian Society believes the buildings should be sold.
It comes amid a growing row over the area after discount retailer TK Maxx was refused a unit at Piccadilly Circus by The Crown Estate.
The development, known as St James's Gateway, aims to provide five and six-storey buildings with offices, homes and retail space.
A Grade-II listed building at 27 Regent Street will be refurbished to create nine homes and shops. CB Richard Ellis, acting for the Crown Estate, said: "The Crown Estate is seeking to achieve a sensitive redevelopment."
English Heritage said it could not comment.
Reader views (7)
This is just another case of many where historical and integral buildings (that help make London what it is) are being demolished for bland corporate designs in the name of profit. I would rather see the facades kept and interiors demolished than complete demolition (although i think a staight refurbishment would be better), losing these types of buildings in key areas and replacing them with sterile ten a penny boxes is damaging to the streetscape and risks taking out what makes London what it is.
- Tom, London, 31/05/2009 13:51
Report abuse
Eagle Place? That means my favourite cafe when I worked in that area, Sergio's, is going. How sad.
- Roy, England, 31/05/2009 12:51
Report abuse
Boris needs to get involved to prevent this needless vandalism. Our architectural heritage diminishes every month – it’s truly scandalous. Why can’t we do as the Americans do and imaginatively adapt, instead of demolish?
- Peter Cox, London UK, 31/05/2009 12:51
Report abuse
The biggest industry in the U.K. is tourism, and central London is the heart of it. Building after building is being ripped down in the heart of London, and the whole feel of the area is changing. The Swiss Centre on the NW corner of Leicester Square has just been pulled down. The whole of the Odeon West block on the SW corner of the same Square, is slated for demolition shortly; that block includes the 1865 Racquet pub. Now Jermyn Street.
Tourists are simply not going to pay to come and see a 'historic London' that resembles New York City. It's about time that Westminster City Council opened its eyes to that fact. Central London is a treasure, and it needs more protection.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 31/05/2009 12:51
Report abuse
This is disgusting. Vast chunks of central London should be grade 1 listed, and not just their shells, the interiors as well, to avoid the horrible gutting that repeatedly occurrs.
Perhaps the Crown Estate should return to Royal hands rather than being a parliament money machine.
- Stephen, London, 31/05/2009 12:51
Report abuse
How much more damage is going to be done to historic London in the name of development? Might as well tell tourists to stay away, because there is nothing else of aesthetic value left to see.
- Mark, Venice, Italy, 31/05/2009 12:51
Report abuse
Westminster City Council - Take note of these comments. you are increasingly being seen now as the Destroyer of our city's heritage not a Protector. You are failing in your duty to defend our historic buildings - huge swathes of cherished local landmarks are being sacrificed by your decisions - half of Victoria including fine old buildings are to be razed to the ground, the splendid 1920s Middlesex Hospital has been an unsightly hole in the ground for ages, the imposing Odeon on the south side of Leicester Square will soon be rubble, the Chelsea Baracks may have yet another hideous glass + steel monster, and now this elegant part of Piccadilly threatened with destruction.
What is going on? WCC was once renownend for its custodianship of our historic environment, now it is carelessly throwing it away.
- Thomas, London, 31/05/2009 12:51
Report abuse
