| Comments on planning application 24/03125 Fleet Street Heritage Wall . Anne Hogg London W11 2RZ (Supports) - 10 Apr 2025 As a Londoner, I greatly regret many of the changes that have taken place to Fleet Street in recent decades. Little remains of its recent history and atmosphere, especially its association with the press, so that 'Fleet Street' (a highly evocative shorthand) is now meaningless. The proposed ceramic wall would commemorate its longer history as well as its journalistic one and would become a most welcome conduit of that story to London residents and tourists alike, as well as an enhancement to the lovely sundial which already gives such pleasure. Mr Andrew Hodgson Cambridge CB4 2AF (Supports) Comment submitted date: Tue 08 Apr 2025 I am not a resident of London, though I am often passing by this sundial, and have been intrigued by it and the Fleet Street past that it highlights. More information would have been welcome and seeing this proposal makes me think it hits just the right note. I think this would be of general interest, and benefit enjoyment of the sundial and wider appreciation of the importance of Fleet Street in the national story. I didn't think there are any downsides (I don't imagine any people reading the panels would cause any nuisance) Mr Duncan Simms Bedford MK40 2RW (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 07 Apr 2025 I worked for over a decade in Chancery Lane. Whilst tourist footfall between the Strand/Westminster and the City of London is strong, the history of Fleet Street is getting easier and easier to miss. The sundial is already very eye-catching, and I very much support this project to further highlight and contextualise Fleet Street and its important role in London's media and communications. Jonathan Mance London EC4Y 7DS (Supports) Comment submitted date: Wed 26 Mar 2025 . I support this initiative to supplement the existing feature of Piers Nicholson's sundial on the Bouverie Street wall adjoining Fleet Street.I practise in Chambers nearby at 7 King's Bench Walk, Temple, and walk regularly up Fleet Street. I regard the sundial as a very positive feature on the way. I am the author of the piece on Freedom of the Press in the existing book The Heritage of Fleet Street. The proposed Heritage Wall at street level beneath the sundial will in my view be a colourful, interesting and very valuable addition to the sundialIt will draw the attention of passers-by to the history, people and buildings of the whole surrounding area, and to the significance of all of these for the modern press and media. We take too often for granted the freedom of expression for which brave forebears suffered. Equally, however, we should, in an era of instant mass communication, to engage with issues of responsibility which Jonathan Swift identified as long ago when he said in 1710 that "Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping in".The proposed panels, and the additions to them to come, will, I believe, constitute a real and fittingcontribution to the area and t Stuart Wallace West Sussex RH15 8UY (Supports) Comment submitted date: Wed 26 Mar 2025 I support the planning application reference
24/03125. The installation of 90 A3 Heritage Panels will be a significant
commemoration of the events and characters of this historic area of London
that will delightand inform visitors for generations to come. .
Chris MacNeil Flat G-15 The School
House Pages Walk London SE1 4HG (Supports) Comment submitted date: Wed
26 Mar 2025 .
John Griffiths Common Councillor, Ward of Castle Baynard (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 24 Mar 2025 I am writing in my capacity as one of the Ward Councillors for Castle Baynard, in which the Fleet Street Heritage Wall is situated, as Deputy Chair of the Culture Heritage and Libraries Committee and also a member of the City Arts Initiative. I wish to join local partners in supporting the application to introduce appropriate and accessible visual ceramic panels on the Fleet Street Heritage Wall to celebrate and showcase the history and heritage of this unique part of the City. These will both complement the panels at nearby Magpie Alley, but also the Sundial above the proposed heritage wall which so strikingly commemorates Fleet Street's long association with the newspaper industry. These important additions to the showcasing and wayfinding of the area are integral to the ambitions of the new cultural strategy for the Fleet Street Quarter and to the City's ambitions for Destination City. Thank you. John Griffiths | Common Councillor, Ward of Castle Baynard Deputy C hair: Culture, Heritage & Libraries Committee | Deputy Chair: Mr James St John Davis London EC3V 0BT (Supportsted 23.03.2025. ) Comment submitted date: Thu 20 Mar 2025 I am very pleased to see this application put to committee and would like to express my support and encourage the committee to approve it. The initiative will preserve and celebrate the rich history of Fleet Street, offering a fresh, engaging and accessible way for the public to connect with a remarkable and precious history, often missed by passers by. The design is striking whilst being sensitive to the surrounds and the messaging of the overall proposal itself. There can be no doubt that this will be a valuable addition to the local community's cultural assets, something I have heard from a number of local stakeholders. The applicant is to be commended for his dedication and considerable efforts in bringing a vision into a rea Julie Fox City of London Conservation Area Advisory Committee (Neutral) Comment submitted date: Thu 20 Mar 2025 Please see Documents tab for comments John Butt 16 Cosway London NW1 6UE (Supports) Comment submitted date: Wed 19 Mar 202 I very much wishto support this project. It is likely that the majority of British and foreign tourists visit Fleet street out of historical curiosity rather than in search of artistic or architectural treasures. But they may well find that a walk down the street is a frustrating experience because there is currently surprisingly little visible or easily accessible information along the street about the locality's rich past. Fleet street has had a great impact on British life over the last three hundred years or more and its history badly needs to be explained more clearly to visitors. A series of texts such as this project envisages would do much to focus attention on the institutions, buildings and events that have made the street such a significant historical site. For which reason I wholeheartedly commend the proposal to the committee. Helen McAnally London EC2 (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 17 Mar 2025 Mr John Latham London SW11 3LX (Supports) submitted date: Sat 15 Mar 2025 I am a London resident, but not of the Fleet Street area. Fleet Street is in the Castle Barnard Ward and as a longstanding member, Committee member and Officer of the Castle Baynard Ward Club, I have become well acquainted with the area. I am particularly interested in the history of the City. Starting work there in 1965, I have witnessed an enormous change in the buildings within the City, but in spite of the expansion to Canary Wharf, the City's main business has continued to be Finance. However what we have in Fleet Street is destruction of the Newspaper printing industry which was concentrated in the area. Fleet Street was internationally synonymous with Newspapers., and its history should be displayed there. The Bouverie Street Sundial gives an exciting visual display to catch the eye of the passers by and whet their appetites for more information on the industry and numerous Newspapers which were the lifeblood of Fleet Street. The proposed Heritage Wall of ceramic tiles is the required adjunct to the interest engendered by the Sundial Wall. It will give a vital and detailed history in the most exciting way. The QR codes on each panel will expand access to more information available on the Fleet Street Heritage website, which is constantly being updated. This project will also be a delightful amenity for the residents and their families. I strongly support the application and hope that the City will grant planning permission. Mr John Latham 81 Valiant House Vicarage Crescent London SW11 3LX (Supports) Comment submitted date: Sat 15 Mar 2025 I am a London resident, but not of the Fleet Street area. Fleet Street is in the Castle Barnard Ward and as a longstanding member, Committee member and Officer of the Castle Baynard Ward Club, I have become well acquainted with the area. I am particularly interested in the history of the City. Starting work there in 1965, I have witnessed an enormous change in the buildings within the City, but in spite of the expansion to Canary Wharf, the City's main business has continued to be Finance. However what we have in Fleet Street is destruction of the Newspaper printing industry which was concentrated in the area. Fleet Street was internationally synonymous with Newspapers., and its history should be displayed there. The Bouverie Street Sundial gives an exciting visual display to catch the eye of the passers by and whet their appetites for more information on the industry and numerous Newspapers which were the lifeblood of Fleet Street. The proposed Heritage Wall of ceramic tiles is the required adjunct to the interest engendered by the Sundial Wall. It will give a vital and detailed history in the most exciting way. The QR codes on each panel will expand access to more information available on the Fleet Street Heritage website, which is constantly being updated. This project will also be a delightful amenity for the residents and their families. I strongly support the application and hope that the City will grant planning permission. Mr George Godfrey 18 Barons Court Road London W14 9DT (Supports) Comment submitted date: Fri 14 Mar 2025 As a nearby worker in Gough Square (EC4A) and a proud member of the Castle Baynard Ward Club, I strongly support this proposal for works to the Fleet Street Heritage Wall. This initiative will preserve and celebrate the rich history of Fleet Street, offering an engaging and accessible way for the public to connect with its heritage. Situated directly beneath the eye-catching Heritage Sundial on Bouverie Street, the panel design will effectively compress a wealth of information and research on Fleet Street's history into a compact format. Members of our club have enjoyed the temporary Fleet Street Heritage Exhibition at Wine Office Court, and I believe this project will be a valuable addition to our community's cultural assets. I extend my sincere thanks to the applicant for their dedication and hard work in bringing the project to its current stage. Mr David Cole-Adams London N10 3JR (Supports) Comment submitted date: Thu 06 Mar 2025 I have many years experience or working in this area and have been invoIved in the design and upgrading of some of the buildings in the vicinity of the application site. I am in support of this application as the contents of the information which the scheme conveys to the public is unique. There is a rich cultural and historic heritage in the area which has a powerful social and architectural history. Even though there is a dearth of Grade 1 listed buildings, the area contains a wealth of architectural detail which passes largely uncommented on and would remain so if it were not for this display. I am of the opinion that the authors of this work are communicating an invaluable selection of information to visitors to the Fleet Street area which is not readily available from any other source. They are to be thanked for their considerable efforts. Mr Michael Fairmaner 160 Fleet Street London EC4A 2DQ (Supports) Comment submitted date: Thu 06 Mar 2025 I am writing on behalf of Fleet Street Quarter BID. We were formally established on 1 April 2022 and represent over 350 businesses located in and around Fleet Street. We are working with our partners to create a world class destination here in Fleet Street, making it a dynamic leading business quarter with high quality public spaces. Fleet Street is synonymous with the newspaper industry which is why it is one of the few City of London streets found on the original Monopoly Board. But there is little visual reference to this historic legacy on Fleet Street and with the major changes currently underway with several major developments, there is a risk that the few visual historic remains might be lost. This is why we have worked with the applicant on the temporary display of the newspaper history in Hind Court. Whilst the panels in nearby Magpie Alley are very informative, they are hidden away and not visible to casual visitors and passers-by on Fleet Street. The current sundial on Bouverie Street is eye catching and the proposed exhibition panels to go at eye level underneath the sundial is very much supported as a means of providing much needed visual references to the history of the area. The fact that the panels in Magpie Alley is directly opposite the site is a happy coincidence and will have the effect of signposting more people to visit these and learn more about the area; which in due course will complement the proposed cultural use in the ground floor of the development at 65 Fleet Street. The proposal will revitalise the rather blank wall under the sundial with high quality ceramic panels depicting local historic buildings, businesses and personalities throughout the ages. It is a well considered and informative proposal. It will hopefully draw more people to the area and increase dwell time, leading to more trade for the near by retail premises in this designated shopping centre. I therefore very much support the proposal and hope that the City will grant planning permission. Ms Joy Vick Medway Court Judd Street London WC1H 9QZ (Supports) Comment submitted date: Thu 06 Mar 2025 I'm a frequent visitor to Fleet Street and often see tourists looking around for evidence of its newspaper history. This set of information plaques beneath the sun dial will be an excellent way to fulfil the expectations of tourists who up to now I feel will have been disappointed by their visit. Christopher Sandars 10 Crescent Grove London SW4 7AH (Supports) Comment submitted date: Wed 05 Mar 2025 I would like to support this planning application for the provision of historical information on Fleet Street on an empty wall in Bouverie Street. I am a frequent visitor to Fleet Street, particularly to St Brides Church and I always feel that it is a shame that there is today very little evidence of the rich history of our national newspaper industry which dominated this area for so long. The striking and imaginative sundial higher up on the same wall in Bouverie Street goes some way to remedying this defect but the detailed information boards proposed to complement this would provide a far more interesting feature would be of great benefit to Londoners and ought to prove a significant tourist attraction. Yours. Barnaby Bryan The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple Middle Temple Lane London EC4Y 9BT (Supports) Comment submitted date: Tue 04 Mar 2025 As the Archivist & Head of Collections for the Middle Temple, I am entirely supportive of this initiative. Fleet Street, and the nearby alleys, courts and squares, represents an area rich in hidden history, which these plaques would illuminate effectively, to broad public benefit. They would enhance the experience of those visiting the area, and add to the sense of a place in history for those who work and live nearby. The sheer breadth and diversity of organisations, individuals, networks and industries represented in this collection is scarcely parallelled, and to make these stories available in this way would only be of benefit to Fleet Street, its people and the community. This is a well-thought out and professionally presented proposal for which I am pleased to offer my wholehearted support. Ms Pamela Charlick Cambridge Gardens London W10 (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 03 Mar 2025 As an architect with a special interest in how data and informa tion can be harnessed to improve people's lives, I am supporting this proposal to enhance the Fleet Street Sundial wall with a richly informative display of the fascinating heritage of Fleet Street. Located below the prominent mastheads of five historic newspapers - the Fleet Street Sundial - the Heritage Wall panels tell the story of Fleet Street as the centre of the newspaper industry, with well-researched stories of its people and places, architecture and monuments, history and ideas. The City of London suggested in 2021 the addition of heritage information panels to the planning application for the Fleet Street Heritage Sundial - a resource for visitors to London and for locals to enjoy. This design makes a coherent and engaging 'newspaper on a wall' design from an array of ninety-four heritage panels. Legibility and accessibility have been well considered in the design of the heritage wall: Clear section headings guide viewers quickly to the part of the display of most interest to them. - QR codes are integrated in the design, linking each panel to its digital counterpart on the FleetStreetHeritage.co.uk website. Visitors can view content on their own device, in a format to suit their needs e.g. larger text, or save for reading later. - The digital webpages also have an audio link for visitors who prefer to listen. - These features will make this important information resource accessible to a wide range of people. It exemplifies the careful thought which has gone into all aspects of this planning application I support the application and will look forward to seeing the Heritage Wall become a reality. Ms Sarah Williams 1 Highbury Hill Top flat London N5 1SU (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 03 Mar 2025 As an accredited City of London guide, I share the City's rich history with guests from London, the rest of the UK and the wider world. Fleet Street is a unique district - and we must celebrate and showcase the important role it has played for centuries in the dissemination and democratisation of information. This heritage wall would be a welcome addition to a street undergoing transformation. It's vital we make the history accessible to all - at street level. I fully support this proposal. . Ms Caroline James 111d Richmond Avenue London N1 0LR (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 03 Mar 2025 I strongly support the installation of tiles below the Heritage Sundial at the top of Bouverie Street. I'm a City of London Guide and bring people on walks here. Magpie Alley and it's tiles is a hidden gem which people are delighted to discover. They tell me they go back there and bring friends to see it. The new tiles would be close by and would be seen by many more people as they walk along Fleet Street. I sincerely hope this project goes ahead, it will be an important record of the history of Fleet Street. Ms Sally Horton 65 Beechwood Avenue Orpington BR6 7EZ (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 03 Mar 2025 This proposal would be a great extension to the existing sundial and information plaques. I lead guided tours in the area and it's one of the points of interest along the route which always attracts attention. Along with the wonderful tile wall in Magpie Alley this will provide a depth of information and historical context in appealing visual form. I wholeheartedly support this proposal. Miss Celia Pilkington 68 Strahan Road London E3 5DB (Supports) Comment submitted date: Fri 28 Feb 2025 As the archivist at the Inner Temple I strongly support this proposal. The rich history of Fleet Street is fascinating to many. The tiles will be both aesthetically pleasing and informative, allowing many to discover what once lay beneath their feet - from the lands belonging to the Knights Templar to the great newspaper empires of Fleet Street. It is important to keep this history alive, and the tiles will achieve this perfectly. Miss Joséphine Betzer 13 rue cavé Paris 75018 (Supports) Comment submitted date: Thu 27 Feb 2025 I graduated in English Literature at Sorbonne University last year and worked on the history of Fleet Street in my Master's thesis : I come to London on a regular basis to carry out research work. The Fleet Street heritage wall is a great way to make accessible historical and cultural data about one of the main thoroughfare of the City. Its patrimony is very rich and diverse, full of great stories that the publi c, be they tourists or locals, would be glad to know about. This initiative, quite different from the mindset of advertisement, is also a way to adorn the city with something that gives meaning to surroundings rather than engages in consumption. Mr Luca Jellinek 28 Ramillies Road London W4 1JN (six ) Comment submitted date: Tue 25 Feb 2025 The inclusion of semi-permanent, detailed information in the Fleet Street Heritage Wall would add greatly to the accessibility of historical understanding by residents of and visitors to this iconic area of the City. The sundial already promises to improve the aesthetic perception of what would be otherwise an unsightly blank wall. Adding the information tiles would further this purpose. As one of the few architectural historians specialising in the City of London, I strongly support this initiative. Mr Hugo Vickers, DL 62 Lexham Gardens London London W8 5JA (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 24 Feb 2025 I write as Chairman of the Jubilee Walkway Trust (until we branched out into the Commonwealth in 2012). This was created in 1977 by Max Nicholson, the father of Piers Nicholson, whose proposal this is. I fully support the Application on the grounds that it is of historical importance and will be most interesting in informing the general public. Therefore it enriches London. I see it as wholly positive Mr Peter Zymanczyk 83 Canterbury Road Harrow HA14PD (Supports) Comment submitted date: Thu 20 Feb 2025 I am a City of London Guide and I do tours in Fleet Street. I think this artwork would be a great asset to the Fleet Street neighbourhood. It will encourage people to stop, look and then maybe explore the alleys around Fleet Street. With the new developments in Fleet Street and the development of the BID it can only enhance the public realm. Jamila N Stoke Newington High Street London N16 0LH (Supports) Comment submitted date: Wed 19 Feb 2025 I lived near Fleet Street for many years and still visit frequently. The tiles beneath the sundial on Bouverie Street, EC4, are a brilliant idea. They would offer a more detailed history of press freedom in the UK while complementing the sundial above. Fleet Street has an incredibly rich history-it was here that British press freedom was forged and fiercely defended. Few people today realize that this was not achieved overnight. Coming from a country where the press is far from free even today, I find it especially meaningful and valuable to reflect on how Britain secured this right. What a fantastic initiative! Mr Luke Miller The Rectory, St Andrew's House 35 St Andrew's Hill London EC4V 5DE (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 17 Feb 2025< I am a local resident having lived here for 10 years, and Rector of the Ward Church of Castle Baynard. This proposal seems to me to help interpret the history of the area to visitors and local workers. As the memory of Fleet St as a place of print media fades, this will be an appropriate way to make it known, and help people to interpret the built environment which still in the Express, Telegraph and Daily Sketch buildings, among others, including Punch Tavern, retains memories of the newspaper industry that was once centred here. Mr Phillip Bennison Intense Capital Limited 7 Bell Yard United Kingdon WC2A 2JR (Supports) Comment submitted date: Mon 17 Feb 2025 I write in support of this application as a local business and in the capacity as Development Manager on behalf of the owners of both Peterborough Court and Daniel House, diagonally opposite 62 Fleet Street. The lower sections of wall forming the subject of the application are currently very plain. I note that this wall will be revitalised by the applicant proposing to install high quality ceramic panels depicting fascinating local, historic buildings, businesses and personalities throughout the ages. It is a well considered and exciting proposal. Fleet Street is well known for its former printing heritage, but there is very little evidence of it remaining today. Furthermore, Fleet Street has association with fascinating characters from the printing, scientific and business communities since the early 1500's and again, there is little evidence to be found by residents, let alone tourists in our neighbourhood. This proposal addresses these shortcomings. The exhibition proposals will be a very welcome, impressive and timely stimulous in our neighbourhood to promote its unique history. It is very important that vitality and commerce is encouraged to return to Fleet Street and our local business community by projects like this. It will certainly compliment the exhibition in Magpie Alley and if approved, will undoubtedly become an important destination attraction for tourists and a source of pride for those in our community for years to come. Once again, I fully support this application. |