Chief climate advisor blasts City of London Justice Quarter

The chair of the UK’s climate committee has called for new climate-change planning laws following criticism of a new infrastructure project in the City of London over environmental concerns.

The Salisbury Square development off Fleet Street, which is expected to cost around £240 million, has been labelled the “Justice Quarter”. The project involves replacing six old buildings with a new complex, including a flagship seven-storey court building.

According to Architects’ Journal, the demolition of the existing buildings would result in a 40% higher carbon footprint, as opposed to a strategy based on reusing the existing buildings.

John Gummer, also known as Lord Deben, remarked, “the truth is we need to think differently. It’s not acceptable to pull buildings down like this. We have to learn to make do and mend.”

Gummer added that “we need to have a planning law which doesn’t give permission for these things. We are simply not going to win the battle against climate change unless we fight on every front.”