‘A garish and jarring cladding design’ is proposed

• HS2 has proposed to blight Euston further with a garish and jarring cladding design on its temporary portable-cabin offices, double the height of the adjacent historic Maria Fidelis school building in Starcross Street.

A resident of Starcross Street, who will have to look at the designs for 10 years, described them as “unicorn’s vomit”.

The designs were created after HS2 hired an artist known for her bright patterns, without consulting the local community.

A resident of George Mews said the process was “patronising and infantilising… a slap in the face for local people”.

Some might be surprised HS2 wants its office design to hint at clowns inside. Camden Council, which owns the site, has been negotiating with HS2 about the temporary offices for a year.

Those negotiations have delayed the replacement green space that was supposed to help address the loss of almost all near­by green space to HS2.

Covid-19 lockdowns have made that loss of play space even worse for local children and others. We need to know how HS2 was allowed to sign a contract for a design before engaging with local people.

The deadline for comments has passed but you can see the proposals here

CHARGE, the umbrella group of residents’ organisations around Euston dealing with HS2, is strongly opposed to unwanted and hostile designs, imposed without any serious attempt to learn what the community prefers.

Please let your councillors know what you think and ask how Camden has allowed things to get so far on its own land.

JOHN MYERS
Secretary
chargegroup.org