FN Newsletter 05-01-2025

Early January 2025 round up of news, features and public consultations

Welcome to the first of the twice-monthly FN Newsletters of 2025. I hope everyone had a good festive season. Thanks again to all those who made a donation to support The Fitzrovia News.

Nothing stands still in our neighbourhood for long, it seems. At The Fitzrovia News we try our best to keep you informed of what’s going on even if the powers-that-be are reluctant to tell us much, or anything at all. Such is the case with the Mayor of London’s plans for Oxford Street. Sadiq Khan is still big on talk and giving little or nothing on detail. We have an update as part of changes forthcoming in the West End ward. And construction work will begin this month on an extension to the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre. We also have a history feature on land development on New Cavendish Street.

There are several licensing applications out for public consultation and as usual we have a round up of last month’s planning applications. Changes to bus services on Euston Road are also being proposed. See under public consultations below.

Look after your health: While Covid cases have flatlined over the past four weeks but the virus is still circulating and cases of flu are putting people in hospital at an alarming rate. Wear a face mask if you are indoors in public spaces, and get vaccinated.

If you want to get in touch with us to tell us what you think of our reporting, have a question, or would like to contribute to The Fitzrovia News please email us at news@fitzrovianews.com — and you can keep up with the latest by following us on Bluesky.

— Linus Rees, editor

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News

What’s in store for the West End ward in 2025

The West End ward in the City of Westminster is set for another busy year of change in 2025 after a number of redevelopment projects were given approval. But details of the Mayor of London’s plans for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street may not be revealed for another 12 months.

King’s Christmas message recorded at former Middlesex Hospital Chapel

Those royalists living in Fitzrovia who tune into BBC One to watch King Charles III on Christmas Day may notice his surroundings are vaguely familiar.

More than 7,000 Camden residents on waiting list for secure cycle storage

Thousands of residents across the London Borough of Camden are in the queue waiting for secure on-street cycle storage, according to a council report.

Construction work to start on Fifth Quad at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre

Residents living on Cleveland Street near the junction with Howland Street will have to endure at least another 12 months of construction work as yet another major building project gets underway in Fitzrovia this month.

Features

History notes: University of Westminster Cavendish Block

The six-sided city block has an interesting history of land development and there are some freely available maps showing details of the site before the university buildings arrived in the late 1960s, as well as some archive photographs of the buildings on New Cavendish Street, Cleveland Street, and Clipstone Street from the early- to mid-20th century.

Public consultations

Licensing application: Toto’s Delicatessen, 90 Cleveland Street

Elisabeth Hermida Alves has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence at Toto’s Delicatessen, 90 Cleveland Street.

Licensing application: Poke Shack, 26 Rathbone Place

An application has made to Camden Council for a new premises licence at Poke Shack, 26 Rathbone Place.

Licensing application: Super Bowl Noodle Bar, 47 Goodge Street

Super Bowl Noodle Bar Ltd has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence for the ground floor and basement at 47 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia.

Licensing application: The Newman Hotel, 49-57 Newman Street

Kinsfolk and Company (Hospitality) Limited has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence at The Newman Hotel, 49-57 Newman Street in Fitzrovia West.

Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, December 2024

Camden Council has registered a flurry of planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, during December. There is also an appeal lodged.

Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, December 2024

Westminster Council has validated a number of planning applications during December 2024 in Fitzrovia West.

Plans for routes 30 and 205 mean some passengers will need to change buses on journey

Transport for London is proposing to alter the numbers 30 and 205 bus routes along Euston Road and is asking passengers to respond to a public consultation on the plans.

Local democracy reports

Councils and campaigners clash over burning north London’s waste

Scrapping a controversial new incinerator midway through development would be the “worst possible outcome” for the London Borough of Camden and the six other boroughs that use it, says the North London Waste Authority (NLWA).

Westminster Council approves £139mn purchase of additional homes to provide temporary accommodation

Westminster Council has approved an extra £139mn in funds to buy temporary accommodation (TA). The money will go towards purchasing 232 properties, prioritising those within a 30-minute journey from the borough.

Printed newspapers

Our next printed news-sheet will be out in March and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street. See the newspaper archive for back issues of The Fitzrovia News. We aim to produce a two-page, printed issue at least four times a year. Local weeklies the Camden New Journal and the Westminster Extra are also available outside the Community Centre and they also have an archive where you can view the full printed Camden and Westminster printed editions.

News from elsewhere

No room for the homeless at Christmas. Rough sleepers told belongings will be removed and legal action taken

People sleeping in tents along Tottenham Court Road have been evicted before Christmas, a year after some of them experienced the same fate while sleeping behind University College Hospital.

Westminster Council wants to ban estate agent’s ‘For Sale’ boards

Westminster Council plans to ban estate agents from placing for-sale signs outside buildings unless explicit permission is requested for each one.

Remembering Cyberia, the world’s first ever cyber cafe

It’s early on a Sunday morning in late 1994, and you’re shuffling your way through Fitzrovia in Central London, bloodstream still rushing after a long night at Bagley’s.