The Public Inquiry took place:
7-9th October and 17-18th November
For pdf copies of the submissions to the Public Inquiry, click here
To read the appeal decision click here
There is nothing to object to at the moment!
Inspector throws out Hammer’s appeal
A Planning Inspector has turned down the latest attempt by a wealthy Polish businessman to exploit a redundant community church in London for profit.
The plans sparked a huge campaign by locals backed by Westminster City Council who last year refused George Hammer and Mayfair Land Ltd’s application to turn St Mark’s Church, North Audley Street, into a ‘Wellness Centre’ for Mayfair’s elite.
Now his appeal against refusal of both listed building consent and planning permission, which took five days of hearings at City Hall in October and November, has been refused too.
The Inspector Paul Jackson announced his decision on Monday 15 December.
He said: ‘The wellness centre would not provide the range of community facilities that would be available from a church use, especially to the more needy; and this weighs against it.’
He added: ‘The building would no longer be available for baptisms, church weddings, funerals and other ceremonies associated with religious belief nor would it cater for the desire of individuals for a place of solace and prayer.’
He said there were already ‘other private health facilities’ in the area.
His other main concern was the damage to a Grade 1 listed building which the plans entailed:
‘The listed building concerns are of sufficient gravity to persuade me that there are no changes that could be made without needing a new application.’
Kirk Mitchell, the builder who has coordinated the Save St Mark’s campaign from his flat on the Peabody Estate in Balderton Street behind the Church, expressed relief:
‘Finally, the Church of England and the Bishop of London have the freedom to manoeuvre to preserve this place as a church for the Mayfair community which is what we have been fighting for.’
Campaign president Lady Sainsbury said the decision was ‘a vindication’ of the community’s fight:
‘I want to thank the Inspector for coming to the same conclusion as those of us who want to keep the place as a church to worship in.
‘This is a vindication for those living in the area, who have worked so hard to keep it available for community use.’
She said the Action Group would now be seeking a meeting with Mr Hammer. ‘We shall want to sit down with Mr Hammer to work out how a better future for this magnificent building can be secured.’
Mayfair Land bought the lease in September this year, totally at risk and without the necessary consents – and is now obliged to keep in good repair a building that they claimed, in the Evening Standard, was so dilapidated worshippers would have to wear hard hats.
Commented the Inspector: ‘The lease has been entered into willingly by the appellant, despite not having the necessary consents, at risk.
‘For that simple reason I do not doubt, on the balance of probabilities, that refusal would lead to negotiations between the Diocese and the appellant.’
The church was made redundant as a parish church in 1974, but housed an independent congregation for the last 14 years providing evangelical worship and social care particularly for the elderly on the local Peabody Estate. That congregation was evicted by the Diocese in October 2008 - two months before planning permission for the ‘wellness centre’ was refused by Westminster City Council.
The Inspector commented that of nine planning applications in the past 30 years, only two were permitted, and both of those came to nothing.
View the appeal submissions at: