The Frances Crick Institute is located between Brill Place and the British Library and is about to open. You will have seen the building growing as you pass on Ossulston Street. It is soon to open and Camden is now consulting on some improvements in the area that are to be funded from the developer. We have been looking forward to the completion as we were expecting to gain a new cycle link between Midland Road and Ossulston Street
See the location on Open Street Map:
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/51.53131/-0.12934&layers=C
The consultation is now on the Camden Website:
https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/francis-crick-institution-consultation/
To quote:
“Planning permission for the £650 million institute was granted in March 2011 and at that time Camden Council worked closely with the developer to secure funding for various measures for the local community.”
Camden lists amongst other things:
“Creation of a new pedestrian access route between Ossulston Street and Midland Road with emergency vehicular access only (via crossovers) at both ends of the route.”
We were shocked that this was not (as promised at the time the planning permission was granted) described as a “cycle and pedestrian route”.
John Chamberlain has checked the approved planning application. There are approximately 300 separate documents! But he has succeeded in finding the evidence.
In Volume 4.6.0 (Public Realm – Permeability) it states:
“6. 6
The new pedestrian route on the southern boundary between Midland
Road and Ossulston Street will provide additional permeability in the
neighbourhood. It is proposed that this will be made available to the
public subject to UKCMRI retaining control on grounds of meeting limited
operational requirements.6. 7
The southern pedestrian route runs alongside the visually accessible
transverse atrium and the seminar suite. The route will be finished with
concrete pavers as a continuation of the hardscaped public realm. The route
will be open and welcoming with trees softening the south-west side. Street
lights have been incorporated and visibility along the full length of the route
has been maximised to provide a safe and useful route for pedestrians and
cyclists.”
Note the word cyclists!
See our response (Frances Crick)
