In an amazing catalogue of ignorance and errors, it took Whitbread two years to buy a new sign, and when it arrived they refused to erect it.

Whitbread employ a property consultant, Gerald Eve, to look after their buildings. Gerald Eve have an intricate understanding of the lease, and other legal documents between their client and Camden Council. They are paid by Whitbread to use this knowledge in the best way for Whitbread – and the evidence to dates suggests they are exemplary at this task. Gerald Eve chose to enforce a tiny line in the documentation which said it was Camden Council’s responsibility to fit the new sign.

The Tenants’ Association is still quite astounded that Gerald Eve felt quite so bold as to hold Camden Council to account, after all it wasn’t Camden Council who removed the old signage. When we approach Gerald Eve they advise us of their client, Whitbread’s environmental credentials. Those same environmental credentials prevented them spending less than an hours profit from their coffee shop, to put right their wrongdoings.

Whichever way you look at it, FOUR months of wrangling between Whitbread and Camden Council is unacceptable, so when the Police and Ambulance added their names to the long list of those upset at how difficult it was to find Somerton House, we approached BAM, who are erecting the new Unison HQ tower. BAM under contract of Unison kindly helped us to erect the sign. It didn’t take them four months.

In helping everyone to drag their heels quite so well, Gerald Eve has proven that, despite its ability to manage commercial properties, they have a severe lack of understanding of the relationship between the commercial and residential parts of mixed buildings.

Everyone at Somerton House extends a warm thank you to our neighbours Unison  and their contractors, BAM , we commend them for being neighbourly and their helpful ‘can do’ attitude towards life & community.

Their January/February newsletter is attached as a PDF file at the bottom of this post.

EGA Unison site on Euston Road

Work is mostly taking place on excavations and piling towards the rear of the site, so residents on Churchway are getting most of the noise for the time being. A new concrete access ramp to the site is being constructed to allow speedier deliveries.

Coming up over the next month or so, we will see some noisy work to destruct some concrete left in the ground by the previous building. Two tower cranes will appear on site toward the end of February.

The site is supporting the local Speech, Language and Hearing school. Workers on-site can win prizes for the school by setting good standards in safety.

Finally, a request from BAM construction and UNISON. BAM is a member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme. This means that they are committed to being a good neighbour, and to working in a safe and clean manner. The Scheme has awarded the site a clean bill of health and safety.

The most important thing to remember is safety. Whilst BAM do everything they can to ensure that they and those of us living around the site are safe at all times, please remember (and tell your children) that a construction site is not a playground, and that they (and you) must not enter the site. Even though BAM take very care to ensure that the site and surrounding area are safe at all times, it’s always a good idea to take care around any building site, be careful to watch for falling objects, and watch your step on the pavement.

Click here to read the Unison EGA January-February newsletter in PDF format.

You are strongly urged to object to the plans in writing to the Government Office for London. This is the only organisation we can contact to request an inquiry into the plans.

As part of the planning application process, a representative from the Planning Department at the London Borough of Camden must prepare a report for the Planning Committee to consider. In the report for the EGA site, the planning officer has lied. Here we paste the exact paragraph which is contended:

7.5.3.  Overlooking/privacy issuesThere are no significant overlooking issues arising between the development and flats at Grafton Chambers, Wellesley House, Seymour House and Somerton House. As far as Somerton House is concerned, the distance between it and the proposed Block A office tower would be 38m at their closest points. Furthermore they would be separated by a busy traffic route and there would be no facing habitable rooms.

• It states that no habitable rooms will be facing the development. Since 1964, SIXTEEN habitable rooms have been located opposite the proposed building site, and would be affected greatly – not least by losing their privacy!
• The paragraph states the distance between the Block A Office Tower (the ten storey Unison tower) and Somerton House. Planning guidelines state that this distance should be the closest two points of the sites, which has not been provided in the Planning Committee’s report.
• The paragraph also states that a busy road lies between the EGA site and Somerton House. This is an irrelevant misdirection on behalf of the council employee. It would not matter whether there was a river between the two buildings – at six storeys and higher the traffic is not a concern.

You can write to the Government Office for London,  requesting that a Planning Inquiry be held, on the above grounds. This is, unfortunately, a matter where the more support the Government Office receives, the more notice it will take. Spend five minutes writing your letter today and post it to:

Government Office For London
Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London
SW1P 4RR

View the Report to the Planning Committee

Camden Council planning department have accepted the application, which was submitted on behalf of all tenants in Somerton House.

You can still join the campaign against the Unison tower yourself – by writing or emailing the Council’s planning department. The more response they get, the more effective our collective voice will be.

Visit http://stoptheunisontower.com for more information on the planning application, and the objections to it.

(this site is no longer live – works are now in progress on the EGA site with BAM construction, to build the new Unison HQ – new opposition towards the works has come from Somertown and Churchway TRA’s)

The residents and the Councillor were both very hopeful of a meeting within the following week, or so. No response was forthcoming, and the suggested meeting date came and went without a word from Unison.

Over one month later, with model and photography proudly displayed, Unison, Quatro PR and Squire & Partner all managed to attend a meeting with residents. The meeting location and time were agreed with less than a week to go, so residents were very happy with their turnout of over 25% of residents. Word of mouth quickly spread the news of the site, it’s scale and the oppressing view of it from Somerton House.

Unison have apologised for not being as organised with the consultation to the south of Euston Road as they were with the residents to the north.

The proposers of the development explained their plans to the residents, along with photographic ‘now and then’ examples. Residents of Somerton House expressed their concern that the building was quite so tall, quite so close, and quite obtrusive. Although the representatives agreed unanimously that they would not mind living in Somerton House, even with their new office block in place, it was conceded by the P.R. representative that they are developing a big building, and it will have an impact on the lives of residents.

The meeting ended after 45 minutes, when it became apparent that Unison were not willing to budge on their idea, and that residents were even more determined to campaign against the plans after seeing the model and photography.

The Meeting was held on the 2nd of Novmber 2007 in the TA room at Somerton House.

The meeting was chaired by Camden Council Development Control Manager Mr T Cronin, he explained that the pupose of the Fourm was to provide an opportunity for local residents to find out more about the proposed development for the EGA site.

The Forum was attended by concerned local residents groups, Churchway TRA, Somerton House TA, START (Somerstown & St Pancras Arts Line), Seymour House, Wellesly House, Grafton Chambers, Avigal House, several individual residents, members from local TRA’s and Cllr Robert Robinson (lab). On behalf of Camden Planning the Case Officer Barrington Bowie gave an over view of the EGA site, explaining that the site owners Unison purchased the site in 2005 and has discussed possible redevelopment options for the site since then.

The latest proposals are to retain the listed building (the original hospital) and demolish the other blocks to provide four new buildings. The proposed use of the site is to accommodate the new Unison headquarters, they will then find a new use for the 80′s concrete tower block that is their current location, on the corner of Euston road and Mabledon place, east of Somerton House.

The development is to comprise of the new headquarters for Unison including office and conference facitlies, and to also provide a mixture of private and afforable residential accommodation.

Representatives from The Archetect Squires and Partners, Mr M Squire and Mr M Pout explained their develpoment proposials and gave a slide presentation to ilustrate thier propsal of a 10 storey tower with a 5 storey glazed atrium, glazed gateways with cafés and meeting places, a 10 story residential block along with two and four storey residential mews blocks linked with bridges.

Questions by the local TRA’s and residents centered on the height of the building – 10 storeys was too high, and not enough space was given to social housing, when the area clearly needs it.

Cllr Robinson has serious concerns about the 10 storey block, he said that he would oppose the development if the block was more that 4 to 5 storeys high, this was echoed by Mrs Mirinda Martin from Churchway TRA.

It was stressed to the development parties by all the local concerns that the impact of the construction will have the potential and current effects of noise, disruption, vibration, dust and lower quality of life for the local residents.

SHTA Chair asked whether consideration has been given to the impact on the South of Euston Rd, and stated that Somerton House TA had objected to the building of the existing Unison building in 1978, because of the effect on resident’s light and views, and was dissapointed that 30 years later the same TA was fighting the same issue, he also raised concerns about the height of the proposed tower and stated that the proposals had not addressed the social aspects for local residents.

It was noted that the Archetect Mr Squire was hurt by the comment that his tower was likend to the existing Unison building.

Resident’s from Avigal House reiterated the points about the 10 storey building, and said they would block it as it would be overbearing, Churchway TRA Chair noted that she would like to see 4 to 5 floors coming off the tower.

The meeting ended with thanks to all participants.

You will now have received in the post a letter of notification of receipt of an application of planning permission for the proposed work from the Case Planner Barrington Bowie, inviting you to comment on the application. You will have noticed that work has started on the EGA site, this work is to make the building safe, the next contractor due to arrive will be the demolitions experts some time in Novemeber.

SHTA oppose the present proposal and application 2007/3736/P made by Unison for the Former Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, as stated.

The impact on the lives of the residents of Somerton House has not been considered, any building over 5 storeys would block the viewing corridor to Parliment Hill, Hampstead & Highgate, and the plans do not provide satisfactory levels of socal and local inclussion with housing and recreational facilites.

This proposal affects you and other local residents, make sure that you have a say,

SHTA say NO to 10 storeys.

A view from Euston Road, outside Euston Station, looking East toward Kings Cross.

North of Euston Road, an overview of the whole site, showing the depth of the development, with the existing hospital building.

A view from Duke’s Road, just to the South of Euston Road, looking towards the proposed development. This is at the level of the 6th floor of Somerton House – which is the white building down the right side of the photograph.