{"id":854047,"date":"2026-03-27T14:53:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/854047\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:53:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:53:18","slug":"museum-of-london-demolition-challenge-dismissed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/854047\/","title":{"rendered":"Museum of London demolition challenge dismissed"},"content":{"rendered":"

A legal challenge contesting plans to demolish the former Museum of London and nearby buildings to create office blocks has been dismissed.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A BQO spokesperson said it was “disappointed” by the verdict, while the Corporation welcomed the decision.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The regeneration project has received substantial opposition from campaign groups, with more than 800 objections filed and some questioning the scheme’s sustainability promises.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Museum of London opened in 1976 at the Barbican and has since closed ahead of its relocation at a nearby site [Jan Marc Petroschka]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

All three claims were dismissed.<\/p>\n

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

However, he noted this did not necessarily affect the decision-making process, so the outcome was lawful.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The City of London Corporation wants the site to become a “greener and more welcoming environment” [City of London Corporation]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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”.<\/p>\n

The Museum of London is moving to Smithfield Market<\/a>, turning the Victorian space in central London into its new base.<\/p>\n

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds<\/a> and follow BBC London on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

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