High Court rejects opposition to leisure and residential development by English Heritage and Westminster council

A High Court judge has upheld a decision to give planning permission to a leisure and residential development on London鈥檚 South Bank.

The Doon Street scheme had been opposed by English Heritage and Westminster Council, who challenged the government鈥檚 decision to grant consent for the development.

But Judge Mole today supported the green light given to the Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands-designed scheme.

Iain Tuckett, group director of developer Coin Street Community Builders said: 鈥淲e welcome the judge鈥檚 decision. However we regret the huge costs to taxpayers and ratepayers 鈥� and to ourselves 鈥� caused by Westminster council and English Heritage鈥檚 unnecessary legal action.

鈥淭he scheme will provide those living, working and studying in this part of central London access to urgently needed facilities and will increase participation in sports and improve health. It will also create 329 new homes鈥�.

Proposals for the Doon Street scheme include a public swimming pool, indoor leisure centre, 329 flats, headquarters for the Rambert Dance Company and an office building.

Westminster council said London's skyline would be destroyed by the scheme. A spokesperson said: "Plans for a controversial 43-storey tower block on London's South Bank have been given the go ahead by the High Court and now London's skyline looks set to be ruined by the monstrously tall Doon Street towers.

"Westminster council and English Heritage together opposed the building of these towers because of the impact they will have on London's historic skyline."

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