Reprinted from...
Morning Star :: Earl's Court tenants rise up against greedy developers
Greedy developers desperate to knock down hundreds of council homes in west London face a national campaign organised by the tight-knit community they want to destroy.
Earls Court residents, local businesses and councillors staged an all-day rally on Saturday to boost their fight against property firm Capco.
Capco wants to demolish 760 homes on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates as well as the 76-year-old Earls Court exhibition centre to make way for a handful of posh flats.
The Save Earls Court campaign is set to become one of the most significant battles between people power and corporate greed in the country.
Hundreds of people joined in the I Love Earls Court day of action to plan a counterattack against the profiteers.
Callous London Mayor Boris Johnson and so-called Communities Secretary Eric Pickles have already approved the development, stitched up between Capco and Hammersmith & Fulham council.
But activists say it is not too late to save Earls Court and plans are in motion to link up with other campaigns across London and the country.
Earls Court Area Action Group’s Sally Taylor, who lives on the West Kensington estate, told the Morning Star that a joined-up campaign would be essential to prevent the demolition from encouraging other developers to turf out council tenants.
She said: “We’ve been told by the council that we would be moved into like-for-like accommodation but I’m not buying that.
“The demolition will break up our tight-knit community that goes back decades and our communities will be ghettoised and shunted into less-desirable areas to make room for luxury flats to cater for businessmen on fleeting visits.”
Frederick Podmore, 79, welcomed the campaign group into his home on the West Kensington estate where he has lived with his wife Joyce since May 15 1972.
“Money can’t buy memories,” he said. “We’re very upset but we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
Rail union RMT has also thrown its weight behind the campaign as the demolition threatens the Lillie Bridge Tube depot, putting jobs and vital maintenance work at risk.
One campaigner said the union’s support had given them “the courage and morale to continue the fight and organise.”
Local restaurant manager Spencer Parsons warned that knocking down Earls Court exhibition centre could release deadly asbestos dust.
He said: “My main worry is the loss of business literally overnight.”
The huge events held at the centre are responsible for up to half of the local economy.
Hammersmith Labour MP Andy Slaughter said the next stage would be to take legal action.
He said one issue for a judicial review would be the council flogging off the site “at gross undervalue” — knocking off up to a quarter of its value.
Mr Slaughter also pointed out that Capco’s plans made a mockery of Hammersmith & Fulham’s aim for 40 per cent of new developments to be classified as affordable housing, instead offering just 10 per cent.
That is “not just wrong, it’s perverse.”
http://www.capitalandcounties.com/our_business_capco/capco_eco/
Capco Say:
Earls Court is the most significant piece of urban re-imagination in Europe. Under the auspices of Sir Terry Farrell’s Masterplan, it will be the first new estate in the capital for over two-hundred years.
With an ideal, well-connected location where Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham meet, the Earls Court Opportunity Area offers the potential for significant value creation. It will also bring substantial benefits to the area including thousands of new homes and jobs.
Planning momentum
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC) and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (LBHF) have resolved to grant outline planning for the Earls Court Masterplan. In July 2013, the Mayor of London approved the scheme. Work is currently underway on detailed planning applications covering the Earls Court Village and the first phase of the North End Village. It is envisaged these will be submitted later this year.
Progress on land assembly
Transport for London (”TfL”) owns the freehold to the exhibition centres known as Earls Court 1 & 2, and Capco is the leaseholder of both sites. In July 2013, TfL and Capco agreed to pursue proposals to settle heads of terms for a joint venture to enable the development of Earls Court 1 & 2 in line with the Earls Court Masterplan.
In March, the agreement with Network Rail was completed regarding the air rights above the West London Line where it runs within the Earls Court Opportunity Area. In April, the Secretary of State gave consent to the Conditional Land Sale Agreement (CLSA) which provides Capco with the option to acquire 22 acres of land owned by LBHF. In May, Capco also acquired control of the remaining 50% of the Empress State Building.
Empress State Building
Capco acquired control of 100 per cent of the Empress State Building in May 2013 having exchanged contracts with Land Securities Group PLC for the 50 per cent not already owned. Completion is expected in early Augus.
The Empress State Building is a 451,000 sq ft, 31 storey, office building located adjacent to the Earls Court Opportunity Area. In the medium-term, opportunities to extend or review the existing lease will be considered or alternatively the property may be suitable for a residential conversion in line with the plans for the Earls Court Masterplan.
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Honest - that's verbatim. You decide
Morning Star :: Earl's Court tenants rise up against greedy developers
Greedy developers desperate to knock down hundreds of council homes in west London face a national campaign organised by the tight-knit community they want to destroy.
Earls Court residents, local businesses and councillors staged an all-day rally on Saturday to boost their fight against property firm Capco.
Capco wants to demolish 760 homes on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates as well as the 76-year-old Earls Court exhibition centre to make way for a handful of posh flats.
The Save Earls Court campaign is set to become one of the most significant battles between people power and corporate greed in the country.
Hundreds of people joined in the I Love Earls Court day of action to plan a counterattack against the profiteers.
Callous London Mayor Boris Johnson and so-called Communities Secretary Eric Pickles have already approved the development, stitched up between Capco and Hammersmith & Fulham council.
But activists say it is not too late to save Earls Court and plans are in motion to link up with other campaigns across London and the country.
Earls Court Area Action Group’s Sally Taylor, who lives on the West Kensington estate, told the Morning Star that a joined-up campaign would be essential to prevent the demolition from encouraging other developers to turf out council tenants.
She said: “We’ve been told by the council that we would be moved into like-for-like accommodation but I’m not buying that.
“The demolition will break up our tight-knit community that goes back decades and our communities will be ghettoised and shunted into less-desirable areas to make room for luxury flats to cater for businessmen on fleeting visits.”
Frederick Podmore, 79, welcomed the campaign group into his home on the West Kensington estate where he has lived with his wife Joyce since May 15 1972.
“Money can’t buy memories,” he said. “We’re very upset but we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
Rail union RMT has also thrown its weight behind the campaign as the demolition threatens the Lillie Bridge Tube depot, putting jobs and vital maintenance work at risk.
One campaigner said the union’s support had given them “the courage and morale to continue the fight and organise.”
Local restaurant manager Spencer Parsons warned that knocking down Earls Court exhibition centre could release deadly asbestos dust.
He said: “My main worry is the loss of business literally overnight.”
The huge events held at the centre are responsible for up to half of the local economy.
Hammersmith Labour MP Andy Slaughter said the next stage would be to take legal action.
He said one issue for a judicial review would be the council flogging off the site “at gross undervalue” — knocking off up to a quarter of its value.
Mr Slaughter also pointed out that Capco’s plans made a mockery of Hammersmith & Fulham’s aim for 40 per cent of new developments to be classified as affordable housing, instead offering just 10 per cent.
That is “not just wrong, it’s perverse.”
http://www.capitalandcounties.com/our_business_capco/capco_eco/
Capco Say:
Earls Court is the most significant piece of urban re-imagination in Europe. Under the auspices of Sir Terry Farrell’s Masterplan, it will be the first new estate in the capital for over two-hundred years.
With an ideal, well-connected location where Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham meet, the Earls Court Opportunity Area offers the potential for significant value creation. It will also bring substantial benefits to the area including thousands of new homes and jobs.
Planning momentum
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC) and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (LBHF) have resolved to grant outline planning for the Earls Court Masterplan. In July 2013, the Mayor of London approved the scheme. Work is currently underway on detailed planning applications covering the Earls Court Village and the first phase of the North End Village. It is envisaged these will be submitted later this year.
Progress on land assembly
Transport for London (”TfL”) owns the freehold to the exhibition centres known as Earls Court 1 & 2, and Capco is the leaseholder of both sites. In July 2013, TfL and Capco agreed to pursue proposals to settle heads of terms for a joint venture to enable the development of Earls Court 1 & 2 in line with the Earls Court Masterplan.
In March, the agreement with Network Rail was completed regarding the air rights above the West London Line where it runs within the Earls Court Opportunity Area. In April, the Secretary of State gave consent to the Conditional Land Sale Agreement (CLSA) which provides Capco with the option to acquire 22 acres of land owned by LBHF. In May, Capco also acquired control of the remaining 50% of the Empress State Building.
Empress State Building
Capco acquired control of 100 per cent of the Empress State Building in May 2013 having exchanged contracts with Land Securities Group PLC for the 50 per cent not already owned. Completion is expected in early Augus.
The Empress State Building is a 451,000 sq ft, 31 storey, office building located adjacent to the Earls Court Opportunity Area. In the medium-term, opportunities to extend or review the existing lease will be considered or alternatively the property may be suitable for a residential conversion in line with the plans for the Earls Court Masterplan.
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Honest - that's verbatim. You decide
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