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| Ken holding out for trams |
Mayor Ken demands changes to KX
plan
MAYOR of London Ken Livingstone is ready to spike plans for the
massive redevelopment of King’s Cross – unless he gets
his way in a series of negotiations over the site.
He has produced a list of concerns that must be addressed by developers
Argent Limited before the area’s £2billion reconstruction
gets the go-ahead.
Mr Livingstone has been keeping a close eye on the giant project
– currently Europe’s biggest construction site –
and retains the power to veto some aspects of the scheme.
He is adamant that the proposed Cross River Tram (CRT) route linking
St Pancras with Stratford in time for the 2012 Olympics – one
of his favourite transport projects – should be at the heart
of the redevelopment.
In the latest round of discussions, Mr Livingstone’s chief
planner Giles Dolphin has written to Camden Council’s environment
director Peter Bishop outlining where the current proposals should
be revised before they are considered at the Town Hall for the first
time in March.
The list of demands includes:
• Prime position for the CRT scheme.
• Clearer designs around the listed Great Northern Hotel.
• An investigation into the likely effects on Camley Street
Park.
• More affordable housing.
• More homes with wheelchair access.
• Extra noise and air pollution surveys.
In his starkest warning, Mr Dolphin said: “The Mayor wishes
to agree the alignment of the proposed Cross River Tram with the
applicant at this stage with a terminus located at the heart of
the interchange hub. If this cannot be agreed at this outline stage
the Mayor may be minded to direct refusal.”
Camden’s London Assembly member Brian Coleman has also been
sent a copy of the letter and is being kept informed of developments
in King’s Cross.
The proposals represent the largest planning application ever dealt
with at the Town Hall. Mr Dolphin added: “The Mayor seeks further
clarification that the applicant supports Transport for London’s
preferred route for the Cross River Tram and remains concerned that
the proposals, which currently show this alignment as one of three
options, do not fully support this route. The Cross River Tram is
a key element of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and it is essential
for this ambiguity to be resolved at this stage.”
Planning meetings at the Town Hall relating to the King’s Cross
applications have been provisionally marked in the council diary
for two sessions at the start of March.
Councillors holding a vote on the project will be expected to visit
the site on several occasions before they meet. |
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