Holocaust Memorial planning decision taken out of hands of local council

Applications are generally only called in on projects of national significance.

Lord Pickles and Ed Balls, co-chairs of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation, recently wrote to the Robert Jenrick, the new Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, asking for the application to be decided centrally.

“We have no doubt that Westminster City Council will consider the application in a professional and impartial manner,” they said.

“Yet the level of national interest suggests to us that it would not be appropriate or reasonable to expect the local authority to determine the planning application.”

The government has pledged to meet half the cost of the project, with the rest covered by fundraising.

Objectors to the scheme have argued that its location in Victoria Tower Gardens near Parliament would spoil a public green space.

A spokesman for Westminster Council said, “We’ve been clear to date that we would consider the scheme on its merits and in line with our planning policy. We await further information from the Planning Inspectorate on the proposed call-in process and will play our part as necessary.”

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said, "Given its significance, and importance now more than ever, it is right that this application will be decided nationally.”