King's Cross Railway Lands Group (KXRLG): welcome page.
Dates for your diary
Annual General Meeting of the Railway Lands Group 7.00pm on Tuesday 18 November at Coopers Lane. [ Details here. ]
[ Location map here ]
22 October 08Argent unable to borrow for their first phase so the pension fund which owns them looks like having to pay for much of it, LCR and Exel contributing as well. Stories here:
Financial Times: King's Cross project rescued at 11th hour
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e7d00ff4-9fa1-11dd-a3fa-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
Property Week: King's Cross project secures last minute funding
http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storycode=3125560&origin=PWdailynews
Celebration / memorial event for Lisa Pontecorvo in Edwards Square at 2.00pm (approx) on Friday 14 November. Details, obituaries, tributes at http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/kings_cross_people/
New Borough Plans in preparation
Both Islington and Camden are preparing new borough plans to replace their existing ones. There are various stages of consultation and the key issues are buried deep inside the documents. KXRLG's Richard Lee has prepared some briefings. More information hereRecent and current campaigns:
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN KING'S CROSS [ record of the meeting here ]A General Meeting was held on THURSDAY 10th APRIL 7pm at Jean Stokes Community Hall
This meeting was a success and the record of the meeting is very detailed and informative. The Railway Lands Group issues the following statement (July)
The target of 30% local jobs is a huge challenge for the KX development. Everything we know about efforts to get access to training and jobs in new developments for local people suggests that to achieve anything approaching this target will require a lot more interaction between developers/local authorities and schools, colleges, youth projects and employment and training providers and local communities. KXRLG undertook an outreach project in south Islington (funded by the Cripplegate Foundation) to develop a stronger community base from which to communicate with the developers. One of the gatherings we organised to discuss the issues was at the employers suite at City and Islington College. This brought together schools, colleges and local providers, who wanted a lot more collaboration. Another was a youth discussion group at the Copenhagen Youth Project, Blessed Sacrament Church. This confirmed that there is quite a lot to be done if young people in the area are to benefit from developments.
Our key strategic aims are:-
**to get an Employment and Training Panel set up as part of the ongoing infrastructure for the KX development
**to influence the new construction training centre to ensure that it benefits from the most recent and pertinent knowledge available and that it plans to reach as widely as it needs to do.
**to enable the development of community based employment and training consortium which can bid for contracts from the development
| Access to and through King's Cross Station. There is a mounting campaign about this. Packed public meeting on 16 July prepared for action. [ report of meeting here ] [ sign petition ] Camden are considering the long-awaited Arup reports on footbridge links across the north end of the station. The reports are here. Link to blog, website, petition on this issue The threat is that King's Cross becomes an impenetrable blockage in the city, initially like this: and only slightly better after Argent open up their Boulevard. |
King's Cross Development Forum next scheduled meetings: AGM 11th Sept '08 13th November '08 Details from Angela.Ryan@camden.gov.uk  [ KXDF comments on Argent proposals for the Granary / University of the Arts ] [ KCCAAC comments. ] [ Agenda for 10 July meeting here ] |
Triangle site - public Inquiry This public inquiry ended on Friday 4 April 23 July: we lost Decision goes in favour of Argent, against community. Bad news for social housing provision and for noise standards. [ our press release ] [ Inspector's Report ] [ Minister's Decision Letter ] Background here All the documents including the closing speeches Sattelite photo here  Meanwhile Argent's application for permission to use the Triangle in the interim for a construction training centre has been approved. Application details here. KXRLG and CRG have supported this use subject to noise and pedestrian access being adequately handled. |
What Next?
Keeping track of change at King's CrossThere is a steady stream of construction and planning applications and it will continue for some years. The Railway Lands Group will try and keep you up to date with what is going on. [ more ] |
Slides from a talk by Michael Edwards on how Lord Rogers' 'Urban Renaissance' report worked out at King's Cross. June 2008. [ download pdf ]
Brussels group active round the South Station - where the Eurostar arrives - are seeeking our help and support in opposing a draft plan which threatens compulsory purchase and displacement so that new housing for richer people can be built instead.[ More information here. ]
Saturday 8 December Chamber Music Concert in aid of the KXRLG's work with young people and the work of the KX Conservation Area Advisory Committee, starring the Galliard Trio. At St Pancras New Church. Concert and booking details here.
[ Later: this was a great success ]
15 November: King's Cross Development Forum 1900-2100h in Committee Room 3 of Camden Town Hall, Judd Street. This is the consultation forum set up by Camden (and Islington) in relation to the railway lands / Kings Cross Central. All welcome. Details from Angela.Ryan@camden.gov.uk
Crossrail approved 05 10 07
Will Perrin on local impact at King's Cross here. Professor Sir Peter Hall writing in Regeneration and Renewal here.Class struggle?
Stale Holgersen, in a scholarly analysis of the controversies at King's Cross, identifies the class interests which underlie the planning conflicts. [ Download his Masters Thesis here - large PDF file of 14mb ] |
Railway Lands: catching St Pancras and King's Cross
Out now for local buyers: Angela Inglis' book of photos and writing about the King's Cross and St Pancras we are loosing.
If you would like to buy the book, it costs £30 and, knowing the quality of Angela's work, will be worth every penny. Copies in all good bookshops from next week, not least Housmans at 5 Caledonian Road. [ details of the book here ] |
Eurostar maiden visit today 4 September. Pictured on the embankment between the tunnel portal and St Pancras. Photo by Sheila Smith, who was standing at the north end of the Berlin Bank. In the background the flats on Agar Grove and the cement depot. [ More images here. ]
Consultations begin on detailed plans 16 July: the Granary
Kings Cross Development Forum announces that the committee room 2 (Old Town Hall) has been booked for a co-ordinating group meeting on this Monday 16th July, as agreed by the full Forum meeting. The meeting will commence at 6.30pm and run to 8.30pm. Those members of Forum who are interested in planning our approach to the forthcoming application for the building commonly called The Granary to house the University of the Arts are welcome to join members of the co-ordinating group. We will start where the Forum meeting left off and may set up a special working group on this expected application - or we may choose to work on it through the co-ordinating group. Members of Forum who are interested and willing to work with us are particularly welcome.Hail and Farewell
Hail...
...to Islington Council which showed more determination to secure social housing than Camden. On Tuesday 10 July 2007 they refused permission to Argent for the part of 'King's Cross Central' which falls partly in Islington. The committee received a strong and detailed statement from the Cally Rail Group and a supporting statement from KXRLG and then discussed the application at some length. Despite advice from their officers and protest from Argent, they resolved to turn the scheme down because the proportion of affordable housing could be as low as 18% of the proposed dwellings, and certainly could not be more than 40% - against the Council's requirement for 50%.[ CNJ report here ]
[ Cally Rail Group written statement here ] [ CRG Press Release here ]
Farewell...
Stanley Buildings North was demolished by 10 July. This listed building, which we tried to save, and which Camden sold to Argent for probably less than half of its value, has now disappeared. See all the stories below for background. A full obituary is in preparation.Canal boat residents face eviction by Argent/LCR
Please support this long-established community of residents, now faced with imminent eviction from their moorings, even though there will be new moorings in the completed King's Cross redevelopment. More information at http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/. And you could support them by coming to the High Court in the Strand Thursday 14th June at 9.30 when they will challenge their eviction.Judicial review fails
25 May 2007: The judge ruled against us. Details in press release from the King's Cross Think Again campaign here. Help us raise the £10,000 costs we now have to pay - click on 'donate' at the top of the page.Full text of our skeleton argument here
Full text of Camden's skeleton argument here
Full text of the Interested Parties' (Argent etc) skeleton argument here.
The full text of the judgement is at http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2007/1515.html. Archived copy here.
Stanley Buildings: objection raised with Local Government Ombudsman. 15 May 2007 Del Brenner, secretary of the Regent's Network, has filed a formal complaint about the way in which camden Council handled the sale of Stanley Buildings to Arget, especially the price agreed which (see below) seems to have been much lower than it should have been. [ Text of the complaint here. ]
Judicial Review comes to Court: 24 and 25 May 2007 First day in court - some good and some less good bits. More news and verdict friday. Meanwhile BBC has coverage and video at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6686789.stm
Reserve these dates and come to the High Court if you can and support the Campaign for Camden Council to 'think again' about King's Cross. Further details of the campaign are summarised in the latest update leaflet here and details are further down this page. Details about the Court hearing are here.
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Exhibition of photographs by Angela Inglis held recently - now closed. Details here. Link to Angela Inglis' web site here. |
Defending Stanley Buildings: a victory 24 April
Agreement was reached between lawyers for KXRLG (leading the King's Cross Think Again Campaign) and lawyers for Argent. Argent initially asked for the lifting of Mr Justice Collins' order prohibiting any demolitions until the Judicial Review is settled. But they have now agreed to live with the order and undertake only some non-destructive and reversible recording and salvage work in Stanley Buildings North - and to reinstate anything they remove if need be. We are satisfied that this agreement secures the options for alternative future plans for the listed and other historic buildings at King's Cross, as and when the development is re-thought.[ KXTA press release here ] [ Court Order here ]
Defending Stanley Buildings: a defeat 25 April. Camden insist on selling to Argent at cut price
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Our legal team visiting Stanley Buildings. From right Alex Goodman, John Hobson QC and back view of Paul Stinchcombe our 3 barristers; and the backs of Ernest James (King's Cross Conservation Area Advisory Committee) and Phil Jeffries (Cally Rail Group). Picture by Michael Edwards (KXRLG). Read more about Stanley Buildings and a critique of Argent's handling of the stations' historic context by the Conservation Area Advisory Committee - lavish, meticulous report - free download 6.9 MB. Camden wants to sell Argent the 20 three-bedroom flats for £150,000 each, including the land they stand on. This would enable Argent to divert Pancras Road and squeeze an extra 96,000 square feet of offices onto the site. |
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April 13. KXRLG seeks voice at public inquiry this June on further alterations to the Mayor's London Plan, stressing housing, environmental and gentrification issues. The group is also teaming up with other community groups to press for reconsideration of the excessive emphasis on economic growth at the expense of many citizens, and for more systematic treatment of equalities issues. [ KXRLG submission here ]
[ London Civic Forum link - coordination of community representations ]
KXRLG Annual General Meeting was held on 29th March. Details sent to members and posted here with details of venue, map, agenda. This was a very important meeting and reaffirmed support for the Think Again Campaign. It also heard about a new earmarked grant from the Cripplegate Foundation to extend outreach work in islington.
Update on the Campaign following Camden's Development Control meeting on 22 March and Mr Justice Collins' latest order limiting campaigners' costs. KXRLG press release issued 25 March here.
Camden accepts 'sweetener' from Argent and agrees to sell Stanley Buildings. 14 March 2007. See KXRLG representations here but may actually have let it go at a bargain price. Report in Camden New Journal here 22 March. Then on 23 March four Camden councillors sucessfully demand that this sale be 'called in' for Scrutiny.... More to follow.
King's Cross development: campaigners win right to High Court hearing
27 Feb: Members of King's Cross Think Again campaign were delighted to hear that their application for judicial review had been recognised for its seriousness and urgency by the High Court.In an order made last Friday, Mr Justice Collins gave directions for the hearing of the challenge to LB Camden...... [ more ]
Think Again Campaign goes to court....
13 February 07: Solicitors for KXRLG have lodged papers with the High Court seeking a judicial review of Camden's decision not to reconsider permission for Argent's scheme.[ Short press release here]
[ Full legal document here ]
This is the outcome of many months of campaigning by hundreds of people, hundreds of donations to cover legal costs so far, hundreds of hours of unpaid work by volunteers and lawyers....
The best we can hope for is that the Court cancels Camden's decisions and requires councillors to consider the scheme afresh - which many of them are on record as wanting to do.
Our legal Team comprises Richard Stein and Jamie Beagent at Leigh Day and barristers John Hobson QC & Paul Stinchcombe, of 4-5 Gray's Inn Square, and Alex Goodman of Atlas Chambers. Jamie was named 'Lawyer of the Week' by The Times on 6 February for his work acting for Corner House and Campaign Against Arms Trade in applying for a judicial review of the decision by the Serious Fraud Office to drop the investigation into BAE's £40 billion defence deal with Saudi Arabia.
[ Link to Leigh Day press release on King's Cross ]
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Carbuncle.... eyebrows.... long walks. KXRLG objects to latest proposals for King's Cross western ticket hall, arguing that alternatives could be quicker and much better for everyone.
[ Download KXRLG objection] [ Download Conservation Area Advisory Committee observations ] [ Download Cally Rail Group objection ] Consultations in this round are now closed - 9 Feb.
Think Again Campaign
31 Jan 07 Update on the legal challenges so far made by the 'Think Again' Campaign to the grant of planning permission by Camden Council to Argent and others; Camden continues to rebut all criticisms of their procedures and the Campaign is intensifying its legal scrutiny. Watch this space.Jan 07 The legal agreement between Camden and the developers (Section 106 agreement) which we have criticised most strongly for failing the community. For the agreement itself see below at 16 December.
The "Islington Triangle" applications.
On this the Cally Rail Group has issued a press release [ link ]drawing attention to an attempt to by-pass elected councillors. They have also a copy of a letter from Argent written to Islington Council [ link ] and are seeking support at the West Area Committee on 12 February at 1930h in the Barnsbury Centre on Offord Road.A General Meeting was held on 31 January 2007 covering all these matters above and the Cross River Tram proposals and RLG will be submitting observations.
25 January 2007: Canopies and new mushroom roof for King's Cross station ticket office. The plans for the new canopy for KX station include a plan to close the access to King's Cross station on York Way near Goodsway and Islington residents are objecting and KXRLG should pick up on this. There is still just time to object and demand improvements,
A 5 minute video on the subject has been placed on YOUTUBE (Click on the link or cut and paste the link below to go there and watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgXetQfU5HA&mode=user&search=
This will come up briefly at the general meeting (above). KXRLG objected - see above 31 January and 22 March.
London Plan. The Mayor has proposed further alterations to the plan and KXRLG responded to the consultation draft. There will be public hearings about this in June 2007. The KXRLG submission of December 22 2006 is here.
Permission confirmed. On 16 November Camden council's Development Control committee was cowed into confirming the grant of planning permission, and approving a weak S106 agreement. This is a major defeat for local groups and a victory (beyond the grave) for Camden's fomer leadership who were determined to see this scheme get built. Local people and organisations now have to decide whether to pursue all this to the (?bitter) end with a judicial review or not.... Members of the Railway Lands Group will shortly get a call to a strategic meeting so watch this space.
[ one participant's personal notes here, and more contributions needed from other people please ]
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Think again campaign: lawyers advise that Camden must think again, not confirm permission for Argent's development or sign-off the Section 106 agreement. 21 Sept: Camden asks for more time to reply - maybe next week. [ more ]
On Friday 8 September lawyers acting for local groups presented a comprehensive challenge to the legality of Camden council's position and news was released to the local and national press today 12 September.
Camden council's Development Control Committee meets on 16 November and the officers are recommending permission, and approval of the Section 106 agreement.
Agenda is here, with links to other documents.: http://www3.camden.gov.uk/templates/committees/showHTML.cfm?file=19355.htm
Among them is the Section 106 Agreeement: http://www3.camden.gov.uk/templates/committees/documents/19343.pdf
and the officers' main report:
http://www3.camden.gov.uk/templates/committees/showHTML.cfm?file=19355.htm
read on for the story so far....
6 November 2006: Camden's solicitors write again in response to the Campaign Group's letter of 16 October (below). All the signs are that the officers intend to forge ahead, recommending consent and approval of the S106 agreement on November 16th. It is now up to the elected members to demand a re-think.
[ Camden's 6 November reply here in full ]
2 November 2006: Railway Lands Group writes to Camden councillors summarising the further progress needed before the draft Section 106 agreement could be an acceptable basis for the development to go ahead.
[ Download KXRLG letter to Councillors ] [ Full compilation of submissions ] [ list of groups which have contributed ]
30 October 2006: Campaign group writes to every Camden councillor summarising the entire legal challenge and bringing home forcefully to them why they would be acting unlawfully if they confimed the planning permisssions to Argent. This is the simplest document for getting to grips with the story.
[ Download pdf here ]
16 October 2006 Think Again campaign groups reply to Camden saying that their letter is wholly inadequate.
[ Formal legal letter here ] [ Press release here ]
3 October 2006 finally we receive Camden's solicitors' reply to the challenge from local groups. [ Their letter here ]
Read the press release here, in ordinary language
Read the detailed legal case here - PDF download
Read a short related letter to Islington here - PDF download
Sign the petition in support here
Donate some money towards our legal costs here.
Come to our next general meeting, to be announced here.
Read recent press coverage of the campaign here
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July 2006: The Railway Lands Group, in alliance with member groups and others, is campaigning for a re-think about the proposals for the railway lands - Summer 2006. Read the leflet and sign the petition:
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Click on both thumbnail images to download the leaflet / petition or sign the petition online at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ThinkAgain Press release about launch click here. |
Click on picture for full story at readable scale. (Not (yet?) on Ham and High web site.)
Setback in April / May
The Deputy Prime Minister decided not to question Camden's decision in March that, subject to a whole series of conditions, they would grant permission, as sought, to Argent and others. Thus there will not be the public inquiry which we have all been calling for.
31 March 2006: Progress!
In response to a deluge of objections, Mr John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister (and Minister responsible for planning), decides to take a bit more time to consider the objections and to decide whether to have a public inquiry.Railway Lands Group letter to Mr Prescott [ download small file pdf ]
Other organisations' letters to him
Press coverage
March 2006: Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, gives the Argent scheme his go-ahead, although it does not conform with his policies.
The Mayor's Decision letter here
The GLA report to the Mayor which his letter refers to.
| Camden Planning Committee, by a narrow majority, decided to grant permission to Argent on 9 March. See "what can I do?" below. Meanwhile there (was) an exhibition of Angela Inglis' photographs in the German Gym every day except Sundays. |
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| Mr Prescott asked to hold public inquiry See our letter to him |
KXRLG deputation to Camden council This is what we are saying on 8 March |
Deputations by other local groups We are collecting the statements of other groups |
What can I do? Support the delegations, Watch the webcast, and.... |
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8 and 9 March, two evening meeetings of the LB Camden Development Control Committee at Camden Town Hall. There is a risk that Councillors may be rushed into agreeing permission at this - the first meeting at which they have discused the project.
KXRLG will be mounting a delegation: come and support it.
Read the agenda report which officers have prepared for councillors.
[ link to Camden's web site where the report can be downloaded. ]
KXRLG Annual General Meeting and the last discussion of Argent's proposals for King's Cross before the Councils decide whther to give planning permission;
two meetings of the King's Cross Development Forum, the cross-borough community group. The first is on Wednesday, 18 January, at 7pm, probably at the Germany Gym, Pancras Road (opposite the new St Pancras station entrance), but confirm the venue with Angela.ryan@camden.gov.uk. This will be looking at Network Rail's proposals for the new King's Cross station concourse, for which the formal planning application is due to be lodged at the end of January. The Forum will also look at the Mayor's proposals to 'reform' planning in London. The second Forum meeting is likely to be on Wednesday, 15 February, same time same place (but check with Angela Ryan) where it is hoped to have the report which Camden officers will be taking to Camden's Development Control Committee in March. Any groups or individuals from the areas in Islington and Camden around the KX central site can join the KX Development Forum - just ask Angela Ryan to put you on her mailing list. Thanks to Diana Shelley for this info. 8 Jan.
Details here. as PDF.
Saturday 5 November 2.00pm - 5.00pm: RLG General Meeting - all welcome
This is the last opportunity to determine the Railway Lands Group's response to Argent's revised proposals. Courtyard Theatre, York Way (almost next to Macdonalds at the station end of the street). [ Document here to download ]
About our group: King’s Cross Railway Lands Group wants to make sure that the people who live, work or study in the King’s Cross area are involved and benefit from its re-development. We support regeneration of the King’s Cross Railway Lands and we aim to work constructively with the Councils and developers to make this a genuinely inclusive and sustainable development. We are the only independent community group dedicated to this issue for over 18 years. [ top of page ] Argent, the developers of King’s Cross Central, submitted their planning application in May 2004. While we welcome some parts of the Argent application, we believe that overall it is not acceptable for this area, and it must be fundamentally revised - or rejected in its present form. What we would like to see at King's Cross: If you’d like to find out more or get involved, please contact us. Join our campaign. As a community we are so much stronger if we work together. [ top ]
Coopers Lane TRA Hall, Purchese Street, Tuesday 28 February 2006, 1900h (7.00pm).
Islington Council issues its draft comments on Argent's applications (main site). Two documents here, one on procedures, the other the actual observations. Both PDF. Islington's West Area Committee, to be held on Tuesday, 10 January, 7.30pm at the Barnsbury Complex, Offord Road, N1 1QG (the end nearest Liverpool Road, on the southern side). Councillors will be considering their views on the revised application by Argent for the main site - these documents.
Railway Lands Group objects to Argent's revised scheme.
London Plan: KXRLG responds to the Mayor's "sub-regional development framework for central London" - about how the London Plan will be applied in this part of the city. [ Response here ]
1 October: Argent's revised planning application issued. Short period for consultations. Details here.
Our response to the redevelopment plans for Kings Cross:
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