Sir Antony Gormley slams Coal Drops Yard, King's Cross plans

Developer Related Argent has put forward plans to redevelop the grade II-listed Coal Drops Yard into a series of smaller streets hosting shops and "grab-and-go" food outlets.

Coal Drops Yard, designed by King’s Cross station architect Lewis Cubitt in the mid-19th-century, was once an important industrial hub for receiving and distributing coal across Britain.

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It was redeveloped with architect Thomas Heatherwick in 2018, featuring modern 'kissing roofs' above the original yard.

But the new plans for a pavilion-style building dividing the coal yard into narrower shopping streets have been slammed for making the historic building look like "a duty-free mall".

In a submission to Camden Council, Sir Antony, creator the Angel of the North statue in Gateshead, and his artist partner Vicken Parsons, who live in the nearby Gasholders building, said: "We object to the destruction of the beautiful, unusually shaped, historic space of the yard".

They said the plan represented "a lack of imagination, a lazy solution in a place that deserves more" and that upon completion they will be "left with something that feels sad and broken".

Sir Antony and Ms Parsons added the developer's claims over feedback did not reflect true feelings of the community.

The sun sets on Sir Antony Gormley's iconic Angel of the North statue at Gateshead (Image: John Giles)

They said: "What the applicant has chosen to present as feedback from residents does not fit with what we have heard from local people we have spoken with."

"There seems to be a complete mismatch between the very special nature of the architecture of the yard... and the current short-sighted commercial plan of the Argent team at the moment."

Out of the 17 public responses the council received regarding the proposals, only one was supportive.

Several objectors voiced concerns regarding the planned alterations, noting the potential infringement upon the open space of the yard and the area's historic value.

The King's Cross area has also recently been shortlisted for the Riba Stirling architecture prize, for transforming a site of abandoned buildings, bars and nighclubs into a residential area with 1,700 new homes and five public squares.

Publisher Martin Rynja pointed out how active the community has been in using the yard's space for weekly dance classes, charity events and art installations.

He said people have made connected the area through the preservation of both the old and new architecture.

“The area is no longer the area it was in 2015. It’s now a community,” he said.

“The success they’ve had is also now the reason for listening a little bit more carefully to what residents have to say,” he said.

Wine critic Jancis Robinson, who moved to the area in 2016, told The Observer: "Why make such a distinctive and historic space look like a duty-free mall?

"I understand the drive to have more affordable and useful retailers, so why not use existing spaces?"

Anthea Harries, asset management director at Related Argent, said: "To remain relevant, we must continue to adapt and diversify the range of shops to better serve an evolving community of residents, workers and visitors."

Ms Harries insisted that the proposed changes maintain the heritage of the site and the pavilion would consume less than a quarter of the yard's length.

She added: "The pavilion is being brought forward following recent feedback from these customers, who say they want to see more accessible brands, grab-and-go food options and an improved customer journey through Coal Drops Yard."

Sir Antony Gormley inside one of his works entitled Blind Light, a glass chamber filed with fog and light, at the launch of his first major exhibition at London's Hayward gallery in 2007 (Image: PA)