Archinect - News

Due to lack of affordable housing, London Mayor throws out plans for New Scotland Yard scheme

2017-09-12T14:21:00-04:00

The Abu Dhabi-owned developer won planning approval for the 268-home mixed-use redevelopment of the Metropolitan Police’s HQ site in April 2016....Since then developer BL Developments has sought to increase the total number of homes by 27, from 268 to 295, with no increase in the number of affordable units or payment in lieu, meaning the level of affordable housing fell further still to only 3%.

BL Developments, who bought the site back in 2014 for £370m, had submitted an initial proposal to transform the former Metropolitan Police headquarters into a mixed-use scheme. The plans, which involved tearing down three existing buildings to clear the way for six residential-led buildings ranging from 14 to 20 stories, were approved with full planning permission by the then London Mayor Boris Johnson in 2016. The plans included only 10 affordable homes out of 268.

In 2017, the developer lodged a 'section 73 application' to increase the total number of homes to 295 without adding to the number of affordable units or payment in lieu. This increase put the level of affordable housing on site at 3%. Due to the lack of sufficient affordable housing on site, London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has rejected the new proposal. The initial planning permission for the Broadway property will not be affected by this decision and development will go on as planned.

Sadiq Khan, who has made tackling the ...

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris chosen to design new London Police HQ

2013-10-17T13:34:00-04:00

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) won the RIBA competition to design the new London Police Headquarters, as announced by the Mayor of London, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and RIBA on Oct. 14. This is one of the latest big-time projects for the UK-based firm, who is also working on the redevelopment of the BBC television center and was recently named the architect for Google's UK headquarters.

Previously: Foster + Partners Among Finalists for London Met Police HQ

Foster + Partners Among Finalists for London Met Police HQ

2013-07-30T20:40:00-04:00

Five London-based architecture firms—including Foster + Partners—have been shortlisted in the RIBA-organized design competition to create the new central London Metropolitan Police HQ. The facility will replace the existing New Scotland Yard building.

The shortlist was announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and the Metropolitan Police Service today and includes these five teams:

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Allies and Morrison
Foster + Partners
Keith Williams Architects
Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands