Leathermarket Gardens – playground & Conservation Area under threat

Architects dMFK have drawn up plans to demolish the two storey JMB offices on Leathermarket Street and replace them with a massive new 11-storey development encroaching into the park (http://www.leathermarketcbs.org.uk/jmb-office-redevelopment/). As far as I’m aware neither of the two rejected architects proposed anywhere near as vast a redevelopment. There is clearly a need for affordable housing for local residents in this area but any new development should be sympathetic to the Conservation Area and the surrounding buildings, including the beautiful Leather Exchange.


This is a monster development with an attempt to build on part of the current pavement, possibly blocking one of the entrances to Leathermarket Gardens, and to extend the new building right up to the boundary with the playground. Such a large development threatens to cast the lovely children’s play area in shadow and risk harming the nearby trees and greenery.


I think that it is really worth looking at this proposal and making your voice heard as it will totally change the play area and the park forever. Here is the link to the Neighbourhood Consultation - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LKLZM92 (deadline 15th January). Worth noting that none of the smaller proposals from the rejected architects are included in this survey.

this proposal is much too big, I agree. because we are so desperate for council housing, as no local resident can afford the supposed to be "affordable housing" the politicians are trying to recreate an Elephant Park everywhere they can.rabbit hutches all over the borough. all they are thinking is about the council tax into their coffers, not about the quality of life for the residents. you will have the final vote, vote against it.

max33 , thanks for your support.

A very interesting and detailed objection letter from a neighbouring property was posted through my door. A PDF copy of this letter, 'Response for JMB Office Redevelopment', can be downloaded from Google Drive ( https://tinyurl.com/y84rtvyx or https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gyOtD6HJGbBEA59KVMxL6i_zuLotzMi1/view ).

Hope that you find this useful.