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I’ve taken our fight against a developer’s plans to demolish the local Pizza Express building to the Town Hall.
Nick Russell and the local Lib Dems saved the Kentish Town Baths, and are now working to save the old Polytechnic Assembly Hall opposite.
Hundreds of local residents have backed my petition against the scheme to knock down the historic 1929 building. I’ve told Camden Council’s officials that they’d be wrong to ignore the fact that the former Polytechnic Asssembly Hall is a much-loved landmark.
I told officers they are bound by planning law to protect local heritage buildings that are valued by communities, whether they are listed or not. I wrote: “Our petition provides powerful evidence that this building is dear to the local community, both because of its historical connotations and its contribution to the local townscape. A number have cherished memories of attending the old Polytechnic.”
I won’t let the developers get away with dismissing that building as being of no value. If local residents say they value it, Camden Council should sit up and listen to them.
The council will now consider the objections for two or three months before the application goes to councillors for a decision. I am campaigning to become a strong voice for Kentish Town in the by-election that’s on. I plan to be at the committee to make sure residents’ views are not ignored.
My objection to the plans for the Pizza Express building
Nick Russell, Kentish Town campaigner
DEVELOPERS want to knock down the iconic 1920s corner building on Prince of Wales Road and Kentish Town Road and replace it with a bulky block of flats.
Nick Russell is campaigning against plans that would harm our area.
The local Lib Dem team and I are fighting the plans which the developers have again submitted to Camden Council. The building that’s rented by Pizza Express is one of Kentish Town’s gems, and is close to other local landmarks like the Kentish Town Baths and Una House , as well as the 1929 Polytechnic building it is part of.
These plans for 14 flats are ugly and bulky and do not fit in with Kentish Town’s special character. They also fail to provide any affordable housing, and so I am backing residents fighting the plans with a petition I’ll take to the council to show the strength of feeling on the issue.
Developers should not be allowed to pull down much loved buildings, certainly when they have not asked local people what they want or tried to meet local housing needs.
JOIN MY CAMPAIGN. You can sign the petition against these plans by clicking here. Thank you.
Nick Russell, campaigning for Kentish Town.
