Section 1 – Site Location Map 1 Section 2 – Application Summary Location St Thomas' Hospital 249 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7EH Ward Bishops Proposal Erection of a memorial statue dedicated to the life and work of Mary Application Seacole within the gardens of St Thomas Hospital. Applicant Lord Clive Soley Agent Ms Philomena Davidson 4 Church Walk Bletchingley Redhill Surrey RH1 4PD Date valid 31 January 2012 Case Officer Ms Seonaid Carr Application 11/04574/FUL Reference Recommendatio n(s) Grant planning permission subject to conditions Constraints Conservation Area Environment Agency Flood Zone Opportunity Area Transport for London Road Network London Plan Thames Policy Area Protected Vistas Advert Publication 23rd March 2012 Date Site Notice posted 17th February 2012 on 1. Summary Of Main Issues 1.1. The impact of the proposed statue on the character and appearance of the surrounding Conservation Area and nearby listed buildings. 1.2. Whether the proposed statue conflicts with the use of the public open space. 1.3. Whether the proposed statue would have an impact on the surrounding transport network. 1.4. The impact the proposed statue would have on community safety within the area of the site. 1.5. Whether the principle of the erection of public art is acceptable. 2. Site Description 2.1. The site is a small area of public space situated within the St Thomas’ hospital complex. It is located to the west of Gassiot House, south of Westminster Bridge Road and to the north of the North Wing of the hospital. To the west of the application site is an existing public space comprised of a pond with green space and public seating, further to the west is the River Thames and to the adjacent side of the Thames are the Houses of Parliament. 2.2. The site is located within the Environment Agency Flood Zone, London Plan Thames Policy Area, London Plan Opportunity Area and the South Bank Conservation Area the site is not listed however the South Wing of the hospital is Grade II Listed. The hospital complex is adjacent to Westminster Bridge Road which forms part of the Transport for London Road Network. 3. Planning History 3.1. The site has a lengthy planning history relating to varying developments within the hospital complex. The following applications relate to statues or public art within or in close proximity to the application site: 3.2. 11.03.2009 – Listed Building Consent granted for the relocation of the Statue of Edward VI from outside northern side of the northern entrance to the southern side of the northern entrance (09/00187/LB). 3.3. 20.04.2009 – Listed Building Consent granted for the relocation of the limestone statue of Edward V1 current positioned outside the entrance to the North Wing of St Thomas's Hospital to enable alterations to the ground floor of the building (09/00632/LB). 4. Scheme Details 4.1. Planning permission is sought for the erection of a memorial statue of Mary Seacole. The development would involve re-landscaping a small section of the public space to accommodate the new statue. The proposed area would measure 9.8m wide and 11.9m in depth and would provide a new pedestrian link to the existing walkway to the front of Gassiot House. The new upstand wall which would surround the development would incorporate low level LED lighting. 4.2. The statue would be sited on a plinth measuring 4.2m wide by 5m in length rising some 0.4m above ground level. The statue of Mary Seacole would measure 3m in height from the plinth and stand before a disc with a diameter of 4.5m. To the base of the plinth would be an informative engraving. To the front of the statue would be a spotlight illuminating the statue. The spotlight would project only within the remit of the disc behind the statue and as such would not result in spillage beyond the disc to Gassiot House. To the rear of the statue would be a legend inlaid in the ground which would have another informative engraving. 4.3. The statue would be constructed with high quality materials including Portland Stone to the Plinth, the statue would be cast in bronze, as would the disc, the bronze disc would be cast from the earth in the Crimea and painted a paler colour than the figure to enhance the shadow thrown by the illuminated figure. 4.4. The applicant has advised that the proposed statue would be the first named statue of a black woman in the UK. 5. Consultation Responses 5.1. A site notice was erected within proximity of the location of the proposed statue and a press notice was issued, local amenity groups were also notified of the proposal. 5.2. To date we have received 15 letters of objection and 19 letters of support. The objections raised are outlined in the table below: Objections: Council’s Response: Development would result The proposed statue would not in loss of open space. restrict the open space function of the area within which it would be located and would be ancillary to the use of the open space. In accordance with Core Strategy Policy S5 the development would be improving the access to existing open space by introducing a new pedestrian link between the walkway to the front of Gassiot House and the location of the proposed statue facilitating more efficient pedestrian flow. Although the development would result in the loss of some open space due to the size of the plinth (21 square metres) this would be negligible in the context of the public space located to the front of Gassiot House and the to side of the North Wing which accounts to some 3710 square metres. In light of the above the proposals would accord with the relevant policies of the Lambeth Development Plan. Not a suitable location for a Not a material planning statue of Mary Seacole, consideration. It is not the remit of Mary Seacole has no planning legislation to determine the connection with St Thomas’ content of the statue, we are only Hospital. assessing the planning implications of the proposal. Scale of development It is considered that the proposed dominate the open space, statue would not detract from the blocking views of the river character of the hospital complex and Palace of Westminster. within which it is located. When considering the proposed statue within the context of the site, firstly in its immediate context it is considered it would not detract from the public area within which it would be located and would in fact improve the connectivity between this public area and the walkway to the front of Gassiot House given the introduction of this new pedestrian access. Views of the river are widely appreciated from the application site, it is considered that the proposed statue would not significantly detract from these views or prevent them when standing within the hospital complex. Issue of community safety The Councils Crime Prevention team given the disc would were consulted on the development provide structure to lurk and did not raise concern in regard behind. to the disc providing an opportunity for people to lurk behind. It was not considered that the development would pose a concern in respect of community safety. No consultation from the The Council has undertaken the Primary Health Care Trust relevant consultation, whatever who suggested the Statue. consultation was undertaken by the applicant prior to submitting the planning application is not relevant to the determination of this case. There would be an impact The development would not result in on existing car parking any loss of car parking spaces. This spaces as a result of the comment is not applicable to this development. application. The statue would detract Not a material planning from Florence Nightingale’s consideration. real and evidenced contribution to nursing. Granting planning permission would send the wrong message as Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale very different people. People coming to view the The existing open space can be statue would cause utilised by any number of people, congestion and disturb there are no restrictions to who can patients and visitors’ quiet use this public space. enjoyment of the existing open space. The proposed statue would be located off the main walkway between the entrance to the hospital complex from Westminster Bridge Road and the hospital buildings. Due to its siting visitors would not significantly impede the pedestrian flow into the hospital buildings. 5.4 The following Council departments and statutory bodies were also consulted on the proposed scheme and their responses are summarised as follows: Conservation and Design - No objection; Crime Prevention – No objection subject to condition regarding materials; Lambeth Arts – No objection raised; Planning Policy - No objection. 6. Planning Considerations 6.1. Relevant Policies 6.1.1. The following national guidance is considered relevant to the determination of this application: National Planning Policy Framework 6.1.2. London Plan 2011 7.2 An Inclusive Environment 7.5 Public Realm 7.8 Heritage Assets and Archaeology 7.29 The River Thames 6.1.3. Lambeth Core Strategy (January 2011) Policy S1 Delivering the Vision and Objectives Policy S4 Transport Policy S5 Open Space Policy S7 Sustainable Design and Construction Policy S9 Quality of the Built Environment 6.1.4. The Unitary Development Plan 2007 (Policies saved beyond 5th August 2010 and not superseded by the Core Strategy January 2011) Policy 7 Protection of Residential Amenity Policy 9 Transport Impact Policy 30 Arts and Culture Policy 32 Community Safety/Designing Out Crime Policy 35 Sustainable Design and Construction Policy 39 Streetscape, Landscape and Public Realm Design Policy 43 The River Thames Policy Area – Urban Design Policy 45 Listed Buildings Policy 47 Conservation Areas Policy 50 Open Space and Sports Facilities 6.2.