| Updated:
The High Court has ruled in favour of ex-Secretary of State Michael Gove’s approval for the redevelopment of London’s South Bank.
The then Secretary of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Gove granted Mitsubishi Estate planning permission earlier this year to transform 72 Upper Ground, the old headquarters of ITV.
The site, named ‘The Slab,’ has been vacant since 2018, but Mitsubishi’s proposed plans are to transform it into offices, retail units, and an arts and culture space, opening in 2028.
The London Borough of Lambeth granted developers Lend Lease and Mitsubishi Estates permission in 2022, but the case was escalated to Gove, who approved it last February.
Campaign group Save Our Southbank (SOS) launched a judicial review against this decision, which went to the High Court in October.
Today, Mr Justice Mould ruled in favour on all four counts of Gove’s approval.
Commenting on the decision, Shinichi Kagitomi chief executive of Mitsubishi Estate London and Stephen Black, director at CO—RE said: “We welcome Justice Mould’s judgement.”
“At every stage of the planning process, our transformational plans for 72 Upper Ground have had the backing of senior politicians and independent experts including Lambeth Council and its planning officers, the GLA, DLUHC and the planning inspector.”
“We are looking forward to delivering an outstanding building that makes a significant positive contribution to the South Bank,” they added.
Commenting on the decision, Michael Ball from Save Our South Bank said: “This judgement is a huge disappointment for anyone who loves the river and South Bank. It supports Michael Gove’s wayward approval of a building about which he had great misgivings and acknowledged would harm a string of buildings of national prominence.”
“The decision reveals planning protections are flawed and have failed: the site is designated for housing, and could provide over 200 homes, but there is no housing, despite buildings which lend themselves to conversion; the demolition and development will generate huge amounts of carbon, which is completely unnecessary; the Queen’s Walk is not designated for tall buildings but will now get one; and a string of buildings of national prominence will not protected from harm.”
“This will be a devastating decision for the community and we are considering our options carefully,” he added.