Mitsubishi Estate and development manager CO-RE’s redevelopment plans for the former ITV Studios on London’s South Bank have been given the go-ahead by the High Court.
Lambeth Council granted approval for the 72 Upper Ground scheme in March 2022 and in August 2022 the GLA confirmed it was content to allow the local planning authority to determine the case itself.
The public inquiry, which was ordered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government), was opened on 6 December 2022 and closed on 25 January 2023, with then secretary of state Michael Gove approving the plans on 9 February 2024.
Campaign group Save Our Southbank (SOS) took housing secretary Angela Rayner to court seeking to overturn Gove’s decision. The challenge was heard at the High Court on 15 and 16 October 2024 and Justice Mould ruled in favour on all four counts of the former secretary of state’s approval.
Mitsubishi Estate and CO-RE intend to transform the 2.5-acre site into a new commercially-led mixed-use development which prioritises wellbeing and sustainability,
Designed by Make Architects, the scheme will comprise a 25-storey office building connected to two buildings of 14 and 6 storeys, new cafés and restaurants, cultural venues and open, green spaces.
The site will also feature the London Studios – a multi-level, cultural and innovation hub providing circa 40,000 sq ft of affordable workspace.
In a joint statement, Shinichi Kagitomi, chief executive of Mitsubishi Estate London, and Stephen Black, director at CO-RE, said: “We welcome Justice Mould’s judgement. At every stage of the planning process, our transformational plans for 72 Upper Ground have had the backing of senior politicians and independent experts including Lambeth Council and its planning officers, the GLA, DLUHC and the planning inspector. We are looking forward to delivering an outstanding building that makes a significant positive contribution to the South Bank.”
