Camden Council's refusal to allow property developers to redevelop the Saatchi & Saatchi building, which is situated in London, has been overturned by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
Property developers Derwent London were refused permission for the redevelopment of the site, which would create no less than 55 flats plus new retail and flexible office space in North London, by Camden Council earlier this month. Now Boris Johnson has exercised powers that were given to the Mayor's office three years ago back in 2008 in order to overturn the council's decision and possibly grant permission anyway, regardless of local objections.
Johnson says that the redevelopment will raise more than £1.6 million to put toward the Crossrail scheme and will result in the creation of many new jobs. "These buildings have been home to some of the most creative and innovative minds for the last 40 years, making the area an internationally recognised hub for the global advertising industry," the Mayor points out. "Redeveloping this prime location will contribute to the competitiveness of London's wider economy bringing with it new jobs and businesses.
This proposal clearly meets the test of a planning application of major significance to London and I therefore believe it is right that I scrutinise it in great detail." Camden Council appear to unimpressed by Johnson's usurping of their powers however, with a spokesman maintaining their position that the scale of the development was overwhelming for such a small area and that the Mayor was ignoring the feelings of the community.
