®Planning appeal decision
Royal Mint Court, London, EC3N 4QN
Redevelopment of the site to provide an embassy (Sui Generis use class), involving the refurbishment and restoration of the Johnson Smirke Building (Grade II* listed), partial demolition, remodelling and refurbishment of Seaman's Registry (Grade II listed), with alterations to the west elevation of the building, the retention, part demolition, alterations and extensions to Murray House and Dexter House, the erection of a standalone entrance pavilion building, alterations to the existing boundary wall and demolition of substation, associated public realm and landscaping, highway works, car and cycle parking and all ancillary and associated works. [This application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement]
- Authority
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- Appeal type
- other · Called In Planning Application
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- community-institutional · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Searson C
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The extent to which the proposed development is consistent with Government policies for 'Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment' in the NPPF (Chapter 16)
- The extent to which the proposed development is consistent with the development plan for the area
- Any other matters the Inspector considers relevant
What decided it
The collective substantial public benefits to designated heritage assets, brownfield reuse, design quality and sustainability were found to outweigh the identified less than substantial harm to archaeological assets and other minor harms.
The substantial and significant benefits (heritage enhancement, design/character improvements, brownfield reuse, sustainability) outweighed the great weight given to the low level of less than substantial harm to archaeological assets and the moderate weight given to potential disruption from future larger protests, resulting in a favourable balance for the proposal.
Framework references: 11, 49, 57, 58, 102, 130, 135, 212, 215
Plan policies cited: LP Policy D9b, LP Policy D9, LP Policy D6, THLP Policy D.DH8, THLP Policy S.DH3, THLP Policy D.DH6, LP Policy D11, THLP policy D.H4, LP Policy D12
Judgments cited: R. (on the application of Midcounties Co-operative Limited) v Wyre Forest DC [2009] EWHC 964 (Admin); Somani Hotels Ltd v Epping District Council
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.