Last month I commented that Thames Water seems to be digging holes continuously in Fitzrovia. To be more precise, there are “between 100 and 150 Thames Water road openings in the area each year”, according to a local resident who made a report to Camden Council.
A reminder that Westminster City Council is due to start work shortly on converting Mortimer Street and Wigmore Street into two-way traffic, ahead of work in the autumn to start major changes to Oxford Street. There are also plans for Regent Street.
I reported in the last newsletter that Camden Council had announced changes to its Statement of Licensing Policy to make it easier for businesses to get an alcohol licence. This change has now been put on hold after a coalition of residents groups across Camden raised objections.
It is worth reminding people living in Fitzrovia that since September 2020 former retail premises can in practice become restaurants and bars under “permitted development” — that is, without the need for planning permission. While a licence needs to be applied for to serve alcohol, all too often residents are completely unaware (or are not paying attention!) of a pending application to open a wine bar downstairs from them. In Camden, residents are not sent a notice by the council (they are expected to sign up for alerts) and usually only find out about an application if they see the blue notice in the window of the premises, or one of my colleagues in the Charlotte Street Association gets in touch with them.
I know it is boring… but Fitzrovia News tries to report on every single licensing application so that residents can have their say on these important public consultations. Strictly speaking, a change from a shop to an alcohol-led venue does need planning permission but Camden Council is so hopeless that in practice this is ignored. Westminster Council is not much better. Bars offering drink and the option of food proliferate. Often they open for six months or so before selling on the premises licence to an incoming tenant as the licenses can be transferred. This is a failure of mixed-use planning where empty shops often become bars and restaurants.
Covid continues to remain a major threat to health. Infections and hospital admissions continue, and the disease has damaging long term impacts. Please follow NHS advice to avoid catching and spreading the virus.
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 on our website
Over a hundred mains water leaks every year in Fitzrovia
Two Fitzrovia restaurants gain a Michelin star in 2024 awards
Camden halts licensing policy changes after objections lodged
Mayor of London expands rough sleeping services as number of homeless rise
‘We have been given a voice’ – campaigners win protection for people in care
Protest for Gaza ceasefire interrupts Camden meeting
Exhibition: Charles Holden’s master plan – building the Bloomsbury campus
Exhibition: Lawrence in Fitzrovia – Unveiling of the Marble Head
Public consultations
Licensing application: Alex Coffee, 1 Hanson Street
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, January 2024
Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia East, January 2024
Alfred Mews – public consultation on changes to street
Have your say on Draft New Camden Local Plan
The London Borough of Camden is consulting on their draft new Local Plan.
Printed newspapers
Our February news-sheet is out and available from outside Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street. See the newspaper archive for back issues of 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.