Livingstone backs Ministry of Sound campaign to block 41-storey tower development

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Ken Livingstone is joining forces with the Ministry of Sound to fight plans for a 41-storey residential tower which campaigners say could force the closure of the famous London nightclub.

Last November, Southwark Council rejected a planning application by developer Oakmayne Properties for the Elephant & Castle Eileen House office block redevelopment on the grounds that it included no social housing or public amenities.

But there are fresh concerns that London Mayor Boris Johnson could overturn the decision after informing the council that he was calling in the plans and would "act as local planning authority".

The Ministry of Sound, which presented a 25,000-signature petition to the council opposing the plans, believes the club will be forced to close if the redevelopment does go ahead due to the anticipated number of noise complaints from the residents.

Ken Livingstone, who is standing against Boris Johnson in the 2012 London mayoral election, has today written an open letter to the Ministry of Sound pledging support for the Save Our Club campaign.

He states: "I am writing to support your Save Our Club campaign. I also oppose Boris Johnson’s proposal to overrule Southwark Council’s November 2011 decision to reject the application by the Monaco-based developer Christopher Allen of Oakmayne Properties to build a 41-storey residential tower block adjacent to your club.

"I support Southwark Council’s original rejection of the application as it included no social housing or public amenity, and because of the likely impact of the noise from the Ministry of Sound on potential residents.

"Ministry of Sound is a great global success story. Its profile is good news for London and its vital music scene. Ministry of Sound is known the world over, and helps present a modern and exciting global image of our city, which is vital to attract tourism, business, and study in London.

"Above all, Londoners themselves value clubs like the Ministry of Sound as part of the city’s richness of leisure and cultural choices."

The Ministry of Sound campaign, which has the backing of some of the world's leading DJs along with thousands of clubbers, is also being supported by the Lib Dem Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick.

He said: “I support Ministry of Sound‘s campaign against the Mayor of London’s intentions to authorise a planning application that would force Ministry of Sound to close.               

"Ministry of Sound has a well-deserved worldwide reputation and in my professional judgement as a former police officer and as a neighbour of the club, I believe it is one of the best conducted night clubs in London.

"If Boris Johnson approves the planning application hundreds of people will lose their jobs and London will lose an iconic club which brings over 300,000 people to the capital each year.  When the economy is struggling and London is desperate for jobs, closing this business would make no sense at all.

“Almost 32,000 people, including me, have already signed Ministry of Sound’s petition asking Boris to save the club, I hope he listens to us and does the right thing for London."

In a statement issued following Southwark Council's decision to refuse the planning application, Christopher Allen of Oakmayne said: "It is a bitter irony that the committee cited provision of affordable homes as one of the key reasons for refusal, as their decision has now cost the people of Southwark £16 million worth of 80 affordable homes, as well as an extra £4.25 million worth of public realm improvements and wider benefits for their own designated Enterprise Quarter.”