• CAMDEN’S proposed plan for Euston is truly depressing.

It shows that Camden have not changed their approach one jot following their supposed realisation that we are in a climate and ecological emergency. The design strategy is to build as tall as possible wherever possible.

The only constraints on development ambitions are the “viewing cones” that protect designated views from high buildings.

Instead of “business as usual”, that is, trying to squeeze as much in as possible within planning constraints, Camden planners should be planning for habitable and sustainable communities.

London works best with dense, mid-height, development around streets and squares. Tower blocks cause damage to the existing urban fabric, as can been seen by recent high-rise development across London and are better contained within the City and Canary Wharf.

Added to poor urban design is the fact that to avoid massive amount of CO2e emissions we need to change the way we build and concentrate on refurbishment, at least for the next 20 years.

We are currently overshooting carbon targets and need to radically reduce consumption now. The biggest consumer is the construction industry.

That is why the demolition of the 2007 British Library Centre for Conservation is such a tragedy. Camden planners recently consented a massive new scheme on the land north of the British Library causing the emission of 56,500 tonnes CO2e.

During the planning committee meeting no officers or councillors raised the harm that will be caused by emissions resulting from construction, known as “embodied carbon”. They are obviously living on another planet.

SUE SHEPHERD
Savernake Road, NW3