Development plans given to Argent

By Rosie Stewart

CONTROVERSIAL plans to grant planning permission to a development group were slammed by campaigners this week.

Camden Council granted planning permission to development organisation Argent at a meeting last night, despite the fears of local campaign groups over the legality of development proposals.

Councillor Andrew Marshall said: “We will be supporting all local Camden residents and businesses to seize the wealth of opportunity on offer and ensure that the regeneration of King’s Cross delivers benefits for everyone.”

However, Michael Edwards, spokesperson for the King’s Cross Think Again campaign, expressed his disappointment at the decision.

He said: “Camden gave permission finally for the Argent development proposals, despite
the representations of many objecting groups and despite many of the borough councillors saying that they would have voted against it if they felt they legally could.”

He added: “Good speeches were made [against the decision] but I think we all felt that they made no difference. The odds were stacked against us, so now we are sailing towards a full-scale judicial review. There has to be a better way of doing these things.”

Construction is due to begin at the end of 2007, when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at King's Cross is finished.

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