Covid infections continue to be a concern in London. Please follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus. Information and how to get vaccinated is on Camden Council’s coronavirus web page and Westminster Council’s coronavirus web page.
I’m not a football fan but it is difficult to ignore the World Cup in Qatar. The final will be played at the Lusail Stadium, which was designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Fitzrovia-based structural engineer Arup.
Despite the very grave concerns about the tournament — the death of thousands of migrant workers and human rights abuses — there has been some interesting comment on the alcohol ban during the matches.
The FT reported that “many in Qatar say it has contributed to a less aggressive tone around matches and a family friendly atmosphere”. While the I commented that the booze ban is making a good case for alcohol-free matches, and some women “feel relieved they’re no longer hassled by drunken slobs”.
Perhaps we can learn from this experience? Fitzrovia could do with a break from all the applications to sell alcohol, and the drunken slobs. Camden is currently looking for residents to join its Citizens’ Assembly to help it develop a new strategy for its evening and night time economy.
Last week we heard that UCLH Charity has won its appeal, against Camden Council, to allow it to reduce the amount of social housing being built on the former Middlesex Hospital Annex site in Cleveland Street. We’ll have a full report on this later this month. Next year Camden and UCLH Charity will meet again in the High Court where a judge will decide if a separate 2004 s106 agreement to provide 30 social rented homes on the site is still valid.
If you have an interest in what goes on with personal trainers in Fitzrovia’s private gyms, you may enjoy a new book called Behind Gym Doors, by Matt Hodges. We have one copy to give away to anyone who lives in Fitzrovia. Just email us at news@fitzrovianews.com with your name and address and we'll send it to the first person who writes to us before 6pm Tuesday 6 December.
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 Fitzrovia News please email us at news@fitzrovianews.com
– Linus Rees, editor
The latest news on our website
Business group sets out its plan for increasing commercial activity in Fitzrovia’s streets
The Fitzrovia Partnership’s draft plan for the public realm in Fitzrovia East was launched at an invitation-only event at 80 Charlotte Street in November, and will be a concern for the thousands of people who live in the neighbourhood. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/28/business-group-sets-out-its-plan-for-increasing-commercial-activity-in-fitzrovias-streets/
‘Fifth Quad’ would add to an already crowded cluster of construction sites
There are currently five large construction sites either planned or in progress around the Howland Street area in Fitzrovia, and a sixth site could be added to the already crowded theatre of demolition and construction in the neighbourhood. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/24/fifth-quad-would-add-to-an-already-crowded-cluster-of-construction-sites/
From ‘sisters of the poor’ to ‘serviced apartments’
New plans are afoot to redevelop a former church building in Margaret Street. DAO Estate want to turn the former convent into serviced apartments, offices and a wellness centre. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/25/from-sisters-of-the-poor-to-serviced-apartments/
Public consultations
Licensing: Original Greek Ltd has applied to the City of Westminster for a new premises licence for the basement and ground floor at 3 Berners Street. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/15/licensing-application-basement-and-ground-floor-3-berners-street/
Licensing: Mr Lasagna Fitzrovia Ltd has applied to Camden Council for a new premises licence at 19A Goodge Street. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/16/licensing-application-mister-lasagna-19a-goodge-street/
Planning: Camden Council registered planning applications in Bloomsbury ward, which includes Fitzrovia East, during November 2022. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/14/planning-applications-in-bloomsbury-and-fitzrovia-east-november-2022/
Planning: Westminster Council validated planning applications in the Fitzrovia West neighbourhood during November 2022. https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/11/14/planning-applications-in-fitzrovia-west-november-2022/
Camden Council is developing a strategy for the evening and night time economy (ENTE) and wants to hear from residents in a new public consultation it is running (updated to included details of Citizen’s Assembly). https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/10/26/camden-wants-residents-views-on-the-evening-and-night-time-economy/
Camden is consulting on its Local Plan review. https://consultations.wearecamden.org/supporting-communities/camden-local-plan-review/
And Camden is also consulting on its Community Infrastructure Levy. https://consultations.wearecamden.org/supporting-communities/help-us-to-invest-local-community-infrastructure-l/ .
Westminster Council is consulting on an anti-social behaviour (ASB) strategy. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-community/crime-and-community-safety/anti-social-behaviour
Printed newspaper
Next year will be 50 years since the first edition of Tower – the forerunner to Fitzrovia News – was published. We hope to complete our online archive of fifty years of community newspapers by then. https://archive.fitzrovianews.com/
News from elsewhere
Stolen paintings turn up in a Fitzrovia gallery, reports the Camden New Journal. https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/police-recover-paintings-stolen-from-renowned-artists-archive-four-years-ago