News

Georgian terraces on King's Cross Road with a broken cornice

Camden Fails to Investigate Hundreds of Illegal Alterations to Historic Buildings

30th October 2021

Since inviting a new enforcement chair to the Bloomsbury CAAC two thorough surveys of buildings on Gray’s Inn Road and Marchmont Street have been conducted to investigate planning breaches, mainly pertaining to shopfronts. Shopfronts are typically the subject of most planning breaches due to poor levels of awareness about planning and advertisement law among shopkeepers […]

Enforcement Crackdown to Begin

19th July 2021

We have invited a new member to join us as an Enforcement Panel Chair to help us crack down on the hundreds of illegal alterations made throughout our conservation areas every year.

Bedford Square

Outrage as Camden Tips Bedford Square Glass Extension for Approval

15th May 2021

Bloomsbury Conservation has been left in absolute disbelief as Camden have recommended approval for an all-glass conservatory on world-renowned Bedford Square, just weeks after refusing a simple lift nearby as causing ‘too much harm’ to the historic building. Couple Lucy and Andrew had been waiting years to have their application for a lift at the […]

Former Royal Free Hospital partially demolished

Beautiful Historic Hospital Destroyed

17th March 2021

In an horrific act of urban vandalism, the former Royal Free Hospital on Gray’s Inn Road has been almost entirely demolished, as part of an application granted by Camden Council last year.

Selkirk House / Travelodge Redevelopment

Huge Tower Proposed at Selkirk House / Travelodge Site

11th March 2021

We were consulted in late 2019 for a major redevelopment proposal in the heart of the West End, variously called Selkirk House, Travelodge, and ‘One Museum Street’ by the developers LabTech and DSDHA. After we raised concerns about the potential scale of the scheme, the developers subsequently misrepresented our advice as ‘enthusiasm’ for the tower […]

Secretary of State Asked to Intervene in Belgrove House

26th February 2021

We have today submitted a formal request for the Secretary of State to intervene in the decision making process for Belgrove House, opposite King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations. Camden Council resolved to approve the application last night after a fiery committee meeting. The Secretary of State can use his ‘call-in’ powers to determine a […]

2-3 Morwell Street, Bloomsbury

Demolish First, ask Questions Later?

25th January 2021

Camden’s planning department recommends the demolition of two Victorian terraces before an investigation into whether they should be legally protected is concluded. Camden’s planning department is at the centre of a continuing controversy, as it recommends the demolition of two Victorian terraces before an investigation into whether they should be legally protected is concluded. The […]

Pied Bull Yard in Bloomsbury

2020: A Comprehensive Round-Up

31st December 2020

The BCAAC has welcomed a new member, got a new website, given feedback on an unprecedented number of applications, and much more this year. Many thought that the coronavirus pandemic would bring a halt to the intensity of development and consultation going on in the Central London area. But far from it, developers have rather […]

A tomb in St George's Gardens, Bloomsbury

Success at St George’s Gardens

15th October 2020

Recent events at St George’s Gardens show how planning should and does work when there isn’t a great deal of money involved. The BCAAC has recently been involved in an exemplary piece of work of collaboration between ourselves, Camden, a developer, and another community group at St George’s Gardens, in the Bloomsbury CA. It demonstrates […]

Bedford Square from Morwell Street, Bloomsbury

Camden Plan Demolition of Victorian Terraces next to Bedford Square

8th October 2020

Conservationists face off with Camden in a battle to preserve Victorian terraces and views from Bedford Square. But planners are happy to ignore protest and approve the application. One of Bloomsbury’s least known streets has become the site of a face-off between the usual suspects: the community and conservationists on one side, with Camden’s planners […]

Belgrove House proposed development

Belgrove House: Time to Object

23rd September 2020

Last chance to object to the Belgrove House Monstrosity. Official consultation closes on the 9th October 2020. After months of ‘consultation’ with ‘local stakeholders’, and a PR war with Save Bloomsbury, the development team behind the infamous Belgrove House Monstrosity have taken the hundreds of comments and pointers ‘on board’, and have come back with […]

RNTEH, Wicklow Street

Major Redevelopment on Gray’s Inn Road

11th August 2020

Royal National Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital set for comprehensive redevelopment. Online Q&A to be held on Tuesday 25th August 2020. You can register for the Q&A here, and see the developer’s website here. The Q&A comprises a 1-hour video presentation made by the development team, followed by 1 hour of questions asked by the […]

Aerial view King's Cross St Pancras, c.1937

Belgrove House DMF

26th June 2020

Camden’s planning department are working with the developer to promote the development, and neither give a toss about heritage. Camden’s Development Management Forum for Belgrove House was held online from 19:00 – 21:00 on 25th June. The format of the forum differed from the usual in many ways, not least because it was held online. […]

St Pancras Clock Tower

BCAAC takes on Belgrove House

17th June 2020

After hiding their intentions for more than eight years, the owners of Belgrove House have begun the application process during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. The proposal is to entirely demolish Belgrove House and to replace it with a ten-storey office block. The development would occupy an entire street block and be of a […]

Facade of the former Royal Free Hospital, Gray's Inn Road

Historic Hospital Demolition Approved

11th March 2020

The demolition of much of the historic quadrangle of the former Royal Free Hospital on Gray’s Inn Road has today been approved by Camden Council, in conjunction with the GLA. Despite vociferous opposition from ourselves and Historic England, along with letters sent directly to the Mayor and the Secretary of State, neither Camden nor the […]

Northern range of Cartwright Gardens, Bloomsbury

We Meet with Camden

29th February 2020

On 5th February our committee met with Camden’s Head of Development Management, Bethany Cullen, and Enforcement Manager, Elizabeth Beaumont, to discuss the Bloomsbury Conservation Areas. Overall, the meeting was positive and it seems that we will be working together in the future to combat some of the problems afflicting the conservation areas. We learned some […]

Dockless Bicycles on Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury

Ban Dockless Bicycles from Bloomsbury

18th February 2020

We have learned that Camden are working with London Councils to draft a bylaw to control dockless bicycles, with the possibility of exclusion from certain areas. We have asked for dockless bicycles to be banned from the Bloomsbury Conservation Areas. These bicycles have a detrimental effect upon the special character and appearance of our conservation […]

We Condemn the Overruling of Elected Councillors

15th January 2020

The decision by the Director for Regeneration and Planning to overrule elected councillors simply confirms what we have all suspected for a long time – Camden is undemocratic, and councillors have little control over civil servants supposedly working to carry out their policies. The director, Mr David Joyce, overruled the Members Briefing Panel recommendation to […]

Our Website is Being Updated

20th December 2019

Our website is currently being updated to include more educational material on the conservation area, the committee, the planning system, and why it all matters. Formatting is being updated and altered so that you may notice some oddities in the website over the coming weeks. When the works are complete, we hope to be able […]

UCLH Eastman Dental Hospital Application Approved by Camden

24th September 2019

The UCL proposals for the development of the site for the Eastman Dental Hospital and the former Royal Free Hospital have been recommended for approval by Camden, in the latest of a series of shocking planning decisions in line with their Community Investment Program. The tragedy of the approval is that it almost seals the fate […]