Winckworth Sherwood and Richard Buxton have won roles advising on the judicial review of planned development works to Barts hospital’s Grade I-listed North Wing.
Consultant Marcus Setchell, who delivered Prince George, filed proceedings in the High Court yesterday (28 August) after the City of London Corporation granted planning permission for a new counselling centre on the side of the Great Hall, a listed Georgian building in the north wing of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The charity Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Trust aims to build a £5m cancer centre at the hospital.
Richard Buxton partner Susan Ring is advising Setchell and instructed Richard Harwood OBE QC of 39 Essex Street. Winckworth Sherwoods is advising Maggie’s Centre with a team including Lindsay Garratt.
The claim argues that the City of London Corporation has failed to adequately take into account the significant harm the development, which is made of a translucent glow-in-the-dark material adjoined to the east side of the North Wing, will cause to the 800-years old UNESCO listed site.
The decision to seek a judicial review comes after the City of London Planning Committee’s gave the go ahead to construct an ultra-modern building by an 11-10 vote.
Setchell said: ‘As a doctor who has worked for the NHS for 42 years, I am fully supportive of the provision of cancer support services, but having trained at Barts and been a Consultant there for 25 years, I understand deeply the heritage value of the historic listed buildings, and the need for their protection and conservation.
‘The City of London Corporation has a uniquely privileged duty of care to this ancient city. Its Planning Committee failed to recognise its responsibilities to ensure that the NHS and Maggie’s plans would not have severe detrimental effects on the historic buildings on this the oldest hospital in Europe to still occupy its original site.’
Jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk