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| GUY OLIVER |
The Dame always welcomes contributions from Guy Oliver.
Also, she is beginning to hear that Cllr Campbell is finding her feet and growing into the job.
She needs to show that she can be radical in pursuing what is good and right for all of us.
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| Ruination |
Dear Dame,
It was ironic that we spoke about the Kensington Odeon last week, just as I was on my way to attend the funeral of Colin Amery, the journalist and activist who did so much to save our built heritage.
The Rev. Canon Nicholas Wheeler, who presided, said that Colin had gone on to a place where“there were no more property developers” and although I do not necessarily agree that a world without them would be a better place (one or two are good people), having
observed the corrupt goings on in our capital over the past 20 years, I can certainly appreciate his sentiment.
The Evening Standard published images showing that the original 1926 interior had always existed, in its entirety, under modern shop fittings (just as campaigners had always maintained), exposed by the work
of the demolitions contractor who destroyed the cathedral-like auditorium in February last year.
But, they stopped short of the grand marble staircases, tea rooms and the façade which still remain, dark and empty, as a monument to the arrogance of one man, Jamie Ritblat, who pushed through an immensely unpopular scheme, against the wishes of the local community.
This is also a monument to the morally bankrupt former regime at RBKC and the, at best, willful negligence of Historic England who chose to hide behind their COI ( certificate of immunity from listing ) instead of investigating the building when they were presented with new evidence.
Now, because of a market shift, Delancey is reportedly in the process of off-loading the site to an Indian development group LODHA, presumably able to pay a still inflated price because of a shift in the value of sterling which has adjusted by about 18% from its pre-Brexit days.
I went to see Mr. Ritblat at his offices in 2016 to discuss buying the site: he refused to give a figure.
The next day, his agent called me to say that an offer of £135m would be acceptable, about £100m more than the site is worth.
I told him in no uncertain terms that the people I represented were not fools.
In hindsight, it is blatantly obvious that Delancey had no intention of developing the site, they just continued
to push for ever bigger planning gains in order to achieve the maximum site value so they could sell to the highest bidder and it has backfired on them.
Our council were complicit in the cinema’s demise and the developer was actively aided and abetted by Daniel
Moylan who regularly accepted hospitality from Peter Bingle of Terrapin Communications who acted for Delancey.
It is absolutely outrageous that Moylan went on national television to call the cinema a “flea pit” and say that it“should be demolished” when so many in the borough (half the adult voting population) that he was supposed to represent, wanted to see it saved.
My message to LODHA would be "do not buy this site, don’t touch it with a barge pole".
If you are intending to build out the permitted scheme it is unwanted by the local community and the market for this type of property has tanked, the site will bring them bad luck This is a bad investment even at the reported (reduced) £80 m price tag.
There is an alternative, we have a scheme to build an arts centre which would house an orchestra (we have been talking to the Academy of St Martins in the Fields (who need a home) two theatres, rehearsal studios for professional and community theatre and 4 cinemas and there is room for social housing on the extended site ( not this insane definition of “affordable” housing which is based on 80% of market values (whatever they are in these uncertain times ).
...
People need to live in our borough, people from all walks of life, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, key workers and their families and we need animated high streets, not empty luxury flats.
Let’s all learn something post Grenfell, build for our community, not absentee property investors.
Sincerely,
Guy Oliver
The Friends of The Kensington (Odeon)
What a fantastic vision for the borough - a performing arts centre and housing for real people. A win-win!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. What a fantastic vision. How do we stoop LOHDA buying the site? Is there an alternative buyer who would support this vision?
ReplyDeleteDear Guy - please don't give up! You are absolutely right with your proposal - all of it - it is what we need, the community as a whole needs. Currently there are no cinemas in the whole borough south of Nottinghill Gate (apart from the cine lumiere). And we don't have any arts centres as such. This is scandalous! Especially in a borough such as ours which prides itself on its culture. We need this kind of vision. We need the housing, where people actually live, and we need the culture. Thank you Dame for publishing this!
ReplyDeletewhat do we have to do to push it?? How can we get this moving?
I went to all the planning meetings and when planning permission was granted the cinema was part of that agreement. What ever happens from this point on, the cabinet member for planning policy, the planning committee, planning chairman, the leader of the council, the deputy leaders and director of planning Mr Stallwood himself should stick to the original council decision making sure a cinema is there and the site is used as intended. If the original planning permission runs out, then an attempt to save cinema as it stands should be made along with the wonderful vision of creating an arts and community hub.
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