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Tate Modern in the London Borough of Southwark Planning Application No

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Tate Modern in the London Borough of Southwark Planning Application No planning report PDU/1464a/01 4 March 2009 Tate Modern in the London Borough of Southwark planning application no. 09-AP-0039 Strategic planning application stage 1 referral (new powers) Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended); Greater London Authority Acts 1999 and 2007; Town & Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 The proposal Construction of an 11-storey building for use as an extension to the existing Tate Modern. The applicant The applicant is The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery, and the architect is Herzog & De Meuron. Strategic issues The extension to the Tate is supported by London Plan policies relating to London’s world city status; cultural and tourism facilities. The design is welcomed with the use of brick providing a different but successful approach to the ‘glass boxes’ of the 2008 approval. However, the matter of ‘active’ frontages on the southern elevation needs further examination as well as detailing relating to the junction between the existing and new buildings. There are outstanding concern relating to access/equal opportunities. Further discussions are required to ensure that the building fully meets the principles of inclusive design. The application meets London Plan policies for transport and climate change. Recommendation That Southwark Council be advised that the application does not comply with the London Plan, for the reasons set out in paragraph 87 of this report; but that the possible remedies set out in paragraph 89 of this report could address these deficiencies. Context 1 On 26 January 2009 the Mayor of London received documents from Southwark Council notifying him of a planning application of potential strategic importance to develop the above site for the above uses. Under the provisions of The Town & Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 the Mayor has until 6 March 2009 to provide the Council with a statement setting out whether he considers that the application complies with the London Plan, and his reasons for 1464aMAS10 – Staqe 1 report.doc page 1 taking that view. The Mayor may also provide other comments. This report sets out information for the Mayor’s use in deciding what decision to make. 2 The application is referable under the following Categories of the Schedule of the Order 2008: • Category 1B: “Development which comprises or includes the erection of a building….in Central London (other than the City of London) and with a floorspace of more than 20,000 sq.m.” • Category 1C: “Development which comprises or includes the erection of a building…more than 30 metres high and outside the City of London”. 3 Once Southwark Council has resolved to determine the application, it is required to refer it back to the Mayor for his decision as to whether to direct refusal; take it over for his own determination; or allow the Council to determine it itself. 4 The environmental information for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 has been taken into account in the consideration of this case. 5 The Mayor of London’s statement on this case will be made available on the GLA website www.london.gov.uk. Site description 6 The Tate Modern is located on the south side of the River Thames directly opposite St. Paul’s Cathedral. The surrounding area is characterised by a variety of building types and uses including commercial, residential and cultural. 7 The extension would be located on the south-west part of the site above the disused oil storage tanks of the former Bankside Power Station and on the current location of the western Switch House. It involves the demolition of the western half of the Switch House and re-use of the oil tanks. It is enabled by the consolidation of the existing EDF energy (EDFE) transformer station into the east end of the Switch House, releasing the west end of the structure for use by the Tate. 8 The A201 Blackfriars Road and A3200 Southwark Street, both part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), are each within 300m of the site. National Cycle Route 4 runs directly adjacent to the site on Park, Sumner, Holland, and Hopton Streets. 9 The site is well served by public transport with Southwark Underground station (Jubilee Line) 700m south and Blackfriars Underground and National rail station (Circle and District Lines, First Capital Connect) 700m north. London Bridge and Cannon Street stations are also within walking distance, both offering National and Underground services. Six bus routes can be accessed within a 300m walk on Blackfriars Road and Southwark Street. A further 9 bus routes are accessible from the north of the Thames. Correspondingly, the site has an excellent public transport accessibility level (PTAL) of 6 (on a scale where 6 is high and 1 is low). Details of the proposal 10 Tate Modern opened to the public in May 2000 with an expected annual visitor level of 1.8 million. In its eighth year of operation, visitors have reached an average of 4.8 million per annum. It is the third most visited museum in London after the National Gallery and the British Museum. 1464aMAS10 – Staqe 1 report.doc page 2 11 The Tate has stated that it needs to expand for the following reasons: • Visitor demand: There are now negative effects on the visitor experience due to the popularity of the gallery. There is overcrowding throughout, particularly at weekends and the catering facilities and visitor services cannot meet the demand at peak times. • Display: More space is required to display its collection and art forms new to the Tate including photography, film, video and performance. • Learning: The Tate is committed to increasing public knowledge and enjoyment of art. 12 The proposal is similar in massing and scale to an extension approved in December 2008 but there are significant changes with regards to the external materials and the internal organisation. 13 The previous approval consisted of stacked boxes with a textured glass facade. 2008 approved and current proposal (Source: Herzog & De Meuron) 14 A new application has been submitted as some of the Tate’s objectives have been updated. These are as follows: • Oil tanks: In response to the enthusiasm demonstrated by artists and prospective collaborators, the Tate has decided that the oil tanks of the former power station should be retained as far as possible in their current configuration as ‘found spaces’ • Sustainability: The Tate felt strongly that the extension should set a high standard in terms of its sustainability and energy use. By exploiting heat emitted from EDFE’s relocated transformers, adopting ground source heating and cooling as a renewable form of energy and employing passive design principles wherever practicable, the scheme will achieve 44% saving in carbon emissions and 54% energy reduction over the baseline scheme. A key factor would be the activation of the structure and use of the facade to bring in natural light whilst minimising solar gain. The development would also incorporate natural ventilation in non-gallery spaces. • Refinement of brief: The brief for the earlier proposal has been re evaluated by Tate staff. This has led to a number of changes in an attempt to ensure that the floorspace is used as 1464aMAS10 – Staqe 1 report.doc page 3 efficiently as possible. This has been achieved through measures such as the sharing and consolidation of work and meeting space leading to a modest reduction in the area required within the new proposal. This has had an external impact on the design of the new proposal, notably a reduction in height and bulk and massing compared to the original proposal. 15 The new building will include space for display, learning, circulation, visitor services, staff offices, catering, back of house and plant. 16 Central to the urban and architectural vision is that Tate Modern becomes a singular place merging the existing and proposed galleries. The oil tanks will lead directly into the Turbine Hall and these interconnecting spaces will become the new ‘heart ‘ of the Tate. 17 From the oil tanks, a ‘ceremonial route’ formed of an ascending stair will lead visitors up the new extension. The building will also be served by lifts. 18 The new extension will rise approximately 70 metres above ground in 11 levels (9 above ground). 19 The new extension will provide a new frontage to the gallery and allow Tate Modern to face south towards Southwark for the first time. A new entrance on the south side of the building will lead visitors (approaching from the south) into the new extension and the Turbine Hall. A new north –south route will be created through the building, permitting visitors to enter via the south entrance, across the Turbine Hall and exit via the north entrance/exit or vice versa. This route would generally be open 12 hours a day and link the riverside and the City to Southwark Street and beyond. Case history 20 The refurbishment of the old Bankside power station into the current Tate Modern was completed in 2000. 21 The former Mayor considered a similar extension proposal for the Tate in February 2007 and concluded that the proposal was acceptable. 22 Planning permission was granted by Southwark Council in December 2008 following the signing of a Section 106 agreement. Strategic planning issues and relevant policies and guidance 23 The relevant issues and corresponding policies are as follows: • World city role/culture/tourism London Plan; the Mayor’s Culture Strategy • Urban design London Plan; PPS1 • Access/equal opportunities London Plan; PPS1;
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