Museum of London demolition plans face judicial review challenge 

The case concerns the Corporation’s “London Wall West” development proposals, which would replace the buildings with three new office blocks.

Campaign group Barbican Quarter Organisation (BQO) has won permission to bring three grounds concerning impartiality and objectivity, a local planning policy on demolishing buildings, and an alleged failure to consider alternatives.

The group has also raised concerns about the demolition releasing tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The Corporation approved the application in April 2024, acting as both the developer and approving authority.

However, the then Communities Secretary Michael Gove issued an Article 31 order blocking planning permission.

Gove lifted the order the following month and the Corporation formally approved the planning application for the development in December 2024. 

This decision is now set to be contested in the High Court by BQO. The group launched its legal challenge in the weeks following the decision to approve, and has now been granted permission to bring its judicial review claim.

The claim is being brought on three grounds:

• CLC failed to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations requirements to act with impartiality and objectivity when granting planning permission to themselves. 
• CLC misunderstood and/or failed to apply a local planning policy which puts in place a presumption that buildings will be re-used instead of demolished. 
• CLC failed to consider alternatives and/or failed to comply with the duty to make enquiries under the case of Secretary of State for Education and Science v Tameside MBC [1977] AC 1014 – specifically in relation to the policy requirement for developers to avoid demolition through the re-use of existing buildings or their main structures.

The claimants are represented by Ricardo Gama of Leigh Day Solicitors. Estelle Dehon KC and Riccardo Calzavara are instructed on behalf of Barbican Quarter Organisation by Leigh Day.

Commenting on the challenge, Gama said: “The City of London has recognised in its planning policies that it is no longer acceptable to treat buildings as disposable.

"Given the massive amounts of carbon needed to demolish and replace buildings, the age of single use buildings is over. That is why our clients were surprised that, in their view, the City of London failed to follow their own policies in granting planning permission for a demolition and rebuild scheme instead of looking properly at a re-use and refurbishment scheme.”

A City of London Corporation spokesperson said the authority has no comment at this time.

Adam Carey