Plan for Selkirk House

A 19-storey tower block got the green light from planning chiefs leaving neighbours in Bloomsbury in dismay.

Selkirk House, on the corner of New Oxford Street and Museum Street, has been at the centre of a bitter three-year planning.

But now owners Simten can go ahead with demolishing a 1960s block so that a developer can build new offices and luxury flats.

The Save Museum Street campaign – consisting of 20 residents’ associations and civic groups – had formed to fight the scheme and is now appealing to London mayor Sadiq Khan to intervene.

Jim Monahan told the planning meeting: “What is the point of having these policies if they can be so easily brushed aside, and what damage will this planning precedent cause in the future?

“There must be a better way than constructing a lumpen tower block, ignoring climate emergency policies and building such second-rate housing.”

Camden councillors voted the scheme through on Thursday night despite warnings from conservation groups including Historic England.

Applicants Simten, backed by investors BC Partners said the committee’s decision was a “key milestone” in bringing back to use a derelict block in a central location. It added: “The plans replace existing, poor-quality, homes that have been unoccupied for a number of years and 77 per cent of the additional homes by floor space will be on-site, affordable, housing including family-sized homes.”