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Article: The battle to save the gem that is St James's If anywhere can lay claim to being the civilised heart of London, it is St James's. It is a mixture of clubland, elegant buildings and historic shops, but its unique character is in danger of being destroyed piecemeal by ugly post-modern buildings, nondescript office blocks, advancing restaurants and increasing traffic.
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- April 27, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1999 Evening Standard - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ST JAMES'S dates back to the 11th century and can boast more than
150 listed buildings within its 92-acre perimeter. It is a part of
London that has largely escaped the tawdry redevelopment that has
engulfed much of the capital.
Until now, that is. Faced with a looming explosion of office and
restaurant developments in the area, the St James's Conservation
Society has commissioned a GBP 60,000 planning report.
The 65-page document, Conserving Historic St James's, took six
months to compile and was due to be launched today at The Ritz. Its
purpose, says the chairman of the society's trustees, Dominic Elliot,
is to "draw a line in the sand" and send a warning to Westminster
planners that the ...