(R40) CRYSTAL PALACE CAMPAIGN - MEDIA RELEASE - 25 October 2000
(Emgargoed to 9 Janury 2002)

Denouncing the planned Crystal Palace Park multiplex as a "monstrous scheme", London Mayor Ken Livingstone October 24 gave a sharp warning to Bromley Council that "if there's any chance in the future that changes to the plans and so on could get the chance to overturn it, we will do so." He added, "where we have green spaces left in London they should be defended and not eroded."

Appearing before over 500 members of the public at Westminster's Central Hall for the first ever "People's Question Time", and flanked by over 20 Greater London Assembly members of all parties, the Mayor was asked by one questioner about "developers' lies" to the community. Mr Livingstone chose, for the third time to applause at the meeting, to lash out at Bromley and multiplex developers London & Regional Properties (L&RP).

He declared: "Very often the developer will get a good, well-respected architect when they put in their planning application. Once they've got planning application they then go for some cheapskate, and then downgrade the development. That's exactly what's happened at Crystal Palace which makes it even more of a scandal".

Mr Livingstone evidently referred to L&RP's replacement of architect Ian Ritchie, the original designer of the Crystal Palace multiplex, who washed his hands of the project in a row over pressures to compromise on quality and cost. Bromley's Chief Planner Stuart Macmillan confirmed on October 3 that changes to the massive building's granite facade were "cheaper and more sustainable" than Ian Ritchie's original design.

25 October 200 Last updated 25 October 2000