Boris: I'll block Victoria towers until firm pays Crossrail cash

Development set to transform Victoria under threat over Crossrail row
Ruth Bloomfield12 April 2012

MAYOR Boris Johnson has threatened to halt a billion-pound project to transform the streets around Victoria Station in a row over Crossrail funding.

Plans to build five tower blocks to the station's north were approved in February as part of a huge renovation of the 6.1-acre site.

To secure the deal, developer Land Securities agreed to pay £2.5million to revamp the Victoria Palace Theatre, which is showing Billy Elliot.

But today it emerged the Mayor has ordered Westminster council to withhold planning permission unless Land Securities also contributes £1.2million towards the Crossrail link.

Land Securities responded angrily to Mr Johnson's last-minute intervention, with Westminster planners due to consider the scheme tomorrow. It said in a statement: "The direction to refuse at such a late stage in the planning process for a major London regeneration project is of great concern with significant implications, especially at this time of economic stress."

To revive the project the developer is suggesting cutting the amount it will spend on public art to find the money to pay the Crossrail tax, introduced by the Mayor to raise up to £300million towards the east-to-west rail link through central London, improving access to the City from Heathrow.

It planned to spend £2million on statues and other art in the area, but will instead contribute £800,000 - although it says it will also incorporate "artistic features" into the buildings.

The row highlights tensions over Mr Johnson's Crossrail funding strategy. Critics say the financial burden of the levy could force developers to abandon schemes with the building industry reeling from the recession.

A spokesman for the Mayor said: "Crossrail is of overwhelming strategic importance to the development of London, particularly in tackling congestion on the rail network caused by development.

"In those circumstances it is entirely appropriate to seek contributions. This will often be justified under the London Plan, but it is also a well-established principle that emerging policies can be taken into account in planning decisions."

Land Securities plans to redevelop the block between Victoria Street, Buckingham Palace Road, Bressenden Place and Allington Street.

Westminster council supported the plans of modern blocks despite objections from English Heritage, which claims they will do "serious" harm to the "historic environment". The proposed developments are a 13-storey block in Buckingham Palace Road, a 19-storey office building in Victoria Street and three blocks in Bressenden Place - two 14-storey and one 12-storey.

As well as shops and flats, there will be 35 affordable homes and almost 1,000 parking spaces for bicycles. The Thistle Royal Westminster Hotel will be knocked down. Land Securities also intends the buildings to use rainwater or greywater - waste water from dishwashing or laundry - on garden areas and there will be charging points for electric vehicles.

The development is a scaled-back version of a plan Land Securities put forward last year but had to revise after planners decided that three proposed skyscrapers, the tallest at 134 metres, would have ruined views of Buckingham Palace.

A spokeswoman for Land Securities said the firm did not wish to comment until after tomorrow's planning committee meeting. Westminster council also would not comment before the meeting.

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