Museum of London demolition challenge dismissed

A legal challenge contesting plans to demolish the former Museum of London and nearby buildings to create office blocks has been dismissed.

A judicial review brought by campaign group Barbican Quarter Organisation (BQO), claiming the City of London Corporation failed to properly consider alternative schemes before approving the project, was rejected by a High Court judge on Thursday.

Mr Justice Fordham found the Corporation's policy did not contain "a presumption or expectation against demolition", and there was no requirement to further explore alternative development proposals.

A BQO spokesperson said it was "disappointed" by the verdict, while the Corporation welcomed the decision.

Under the scheme, the former home of the Museum of London and nearby Bastion House, a 1970s office building, in central London will be knocked down and replaced with three office buildings, between five and 17 storeys tall.

The regeneration project has received substantial opposition from campaign groups, with more than 800 objections filed and some questioning the scheme's sustainability promises.

Barristers representing BQO argued to the court that the Corporation failed to abide by the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations relating to impartiality and objectivity, that it misunderstood and/or failed to apply policy, presuming buildings would be reused rather than demolished, and that it failed to consider alternatives to demolition.

All three claims were dismissed.

Mr Justice Fordham did conclude there was a breach of statutory duty when the Corporation failed to make the pre-application documents inaccessible.

However, he noted this did not necessarily affect the decision-making process, so the outcome was lawful.

Approval for the project was indicatively granted by the Corporation's Planning Applications Sub-Committee in April 2024, with the scheme formally green-lit that December.

The Corporation maintains that the project will deliver "a greener and more welcoming environment" in the heart of London, with high-quality office space and capacity for thousands of jobs.

A BQO spokesperson said that while the decision was not what they hoped, they believed raising their concerns over the project was "necessary and justified".

The Museum of London is moving to Smithfield Market, turning the Victorian space in central London into its new base.

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