HC Deb 28 July 1955 vol 544 cc202-3W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that vulgar and undesirably designed buildings are to be erected on bombed areas in the City of London; and if he will call in these new designs to satisfy himself with regard to their propriety.

Mr. Sandys

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will be good enough to give me particulars of the building projects he has in mind.

Sit A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will ensure that all future important buildings intended for the City of London shall be passed by an authority equipped with the taste and discernment which buildings in the capital city of the Commonwealth should possess.

Mr. Sandys

I am as keen as my hon. Friend to encourage high standards of civic and commercial architecture throughout the country; and I am doing all I can to bring the importance of this matter to the notice of all concerned. I intend shortly to seek the views of local authorities and industry and the architectural profession, in order to consider what practical steps can be taken to this end.

Sir A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will consider establishing a commission to coordinate all the interested authorities who can supervise the design of the buildings to be erected around St. Paul's Cathedral to prevent a further development of incongruous structures out of keeping with that important situation.

Mr. Sandys

Proposals for the rebuilding of the area around St. Paul's contained in the County of London Development Plan did not seem to me adequate having regard to the world-wide importance of this site. I consequently asked that the matter should be reconsidered with a view to providing a more worthy setting for Wren's masterpiece.

Since then the Corporation of the City of London have, in agreement with the London County Council and with my full support, appointed Professor Sir William Holford as planning and architectural consultant to prepare revised proposals. With the object of giving necessary guidance to the consultant, a small committee has been formed composed of the Chairman of the City of London Town Planning and Improvements Committee and the Chairman of the Town Planning Committee of the London County Council, with myself as Chairman.

The Committee has had regular meetings and has been assisted by a number of leading architects who have put to the Committee their views as to how the problem should be treated. The City Corporation is in touch with the owners of the sites around the Cathedral with a view to ensuring that, as far as possible, any new buildings in this area will be in harmony with whatever overall scheme may be adopted. I am hopeful that the consultant will be in a position to submit a new plan to the City of London Corporation in the autumn.