Nooks and Corners

Piloti, Private Eye

Unknown date

Within a week of my piece on the monstrous redevelopment proposals for South Kensington station (Eye 1094), the planning was withdrawn by Stanhope plc (chairman and majority shareholder: Sir Stuart Lipton). Hooray!

Since then CABE – the Commission for Architecture & the Built Envirnoment (chairman Sir Stuart Lipton) has felt obliged to issue a carefully worded press release explaining how, “because he holds both offices, we are scrupulously careful to ensure there is no conflict of interest in any project or debate….Sir Stuart plays no part in the Design Review Committee process…” Well, of course not.

The press release admits that, a year ago, “CABE’s feedback on the proposals was broadly favourable.” Indeed it was: the architect was told that the committee “offers its warm support”. It will be interesting to read CABE’s advice on Stanhope plc’s next, revised scheme to make a few improvements to South Kensington station by plonking a massive office and residential development on top.