HL Deb 11 July 1972 vol 333 cc108-10

2.44 p.m.

THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what planning permission has been given, and to whom, in respect of the site of Nos. 142 and 144 Piccadilly.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)

My Lords, B.I.H. Limited, a subsidiary of B.O.A.C. and Pan American Airways, applied in June, 1969, to build a hotel on the site of Nos. 142–144 Piccadilly and Nos. 1–3 Hamilton Place. They also subsequently applied for listed building consent for the demolition of the buildings. Following a local inquiry from August 5 to 10, 1970, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment granted planning permission and listed building consent on May 12, 1971.

THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY

My Lords, I am most obliged to my noble friend for that reply. May I ask him whether he appreciates that there is very considerable interest in this site, particularly perhaps in your Lordships House, owing to its close proximity to Green Park and the central part of London? Can he give an assurance that the projected hotel will not in fact be very large or unsightly, or out of scale with the existing buildings on either side of it in Piccadilly?

LORD SANDFORD

Yes, my Lords, I agree that it is an important site; and primarily for that reason, but also because there were listed buildings involved, a public inquiry was held. In answer to the more specific question, I confirm that the height of the hotel will be fractionally over 100 feet, the precise height depending from which frontage one measures it. It is eight storeys high with over two floors of public rooms. The question of how it would fit into its surroundings was one of the major considerations at the inquiry.

LORD REIGATE

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether the plans have yet been submitted to the Royal Fine Art Commission and, unlike certain other buildings the plans of which have been put through in some secrecy, will they be publicly exhibited in view of the national importance—not local importance, national importance—of this site?

LORD SANDFORD

Yes, my Lords, this has already been done. I could give the noble Lord full details of all the consultations that took place, but no further advertisement, publication, or exhibition is called for by the planning rules at the moment.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, can the noble Lord say that the planning permission has not yet been confirmed by Her Majesty's Government?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, I said that planning consent has been given.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, may I ask the Government whether, in future, they will ensure that sites of this kind, which of course include the Hilton, are planned as a whole and not allowed to grow up piecemeal?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, at the risk of going rather far outside the Question, may I say that the noble Lord will know that this is exactly what is happening in the case of Covent Garden.

BARONESS STOCKS

My Lords, is there any possibility that the Department of the Environment could, in the case of buildings such as this, adopt a policy bearing some relation to priorities, in order to prevent the so-called re-development of perfectly good buildings in S.W.1. and W.1. while the devastated area of Notting Hill, and that very large site East of the Tower, remain as yet undeveloped, albeit with such possibilities both for residential and tourist purposes? It seems that our building resources are not illimitable, and surely there is some possibility of adopting a policy of priorities.

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, I am very much tempted by the noble Baroness, but I really do not think that I can answer a question of that width as a supplementary to a Question on a particular planning permission in Piccadilly.

BARONESS STOCKS

My Lords, may I ask then a supplementary question on those two houses in Piccadilly? Will the noble Lord assure us that Sir Basil Spence is not the architect?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, Sir Frederick Gibberd is the architect here.