Say NO to Camden Lab: August 2008

What the problem is

In 2007 the UK Government sold public land situated behind the British Library in Somers Town, Camden, London, UK - to a consortium made up of the Medical Research Council, University College London, Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust, for them to build a potentially high risk UK centre for medical research and innovation. Many local residents had hoped the land would be used to build new affordable housing and facilities for the community.

Residents across the borough are horrified by such a dangerous, largely secretive establishment being build, and are fiercely opposing the development.

The development has also caused outrage from residents across the London Boroughs as well as nation wide, who object strongly to the cruel and outdated use of animals in medical/scientific experimentation.

Thursday, 28 August 2008

NEW LAB DESIGN

http://www.camdengazette.co.uk/content/camden/chronicle/news/story.aspx?brand=CAMCOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newscamc&itemid=WeED27%20Aug%202008%2010%3A15%3A30%3A373

Skyscraper firm to design new lab
nlnews@archant.co.uk 27 August 2008

AN INTERNATIONAL firm of architects behind a Canary Wharf skyscraper and a new wing at the Natural History Museum have been chosen to design a £500million science lab in King's Cross.

The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation is planned to be built by 2014 on land behind the British Library known as Brill Place. It will employ 1,500 staff including leading scientists from around the world to work on cures and treatments for diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, influenza and malaria.

Now the consortium behind the scheme has chosen architects HOK to design the centre. HOK director Andrew Barra clough said: "This facility has the potential to have an extraordinary impact on the wellbeing of our global popu-lation. Our goal is to create an intelligent and memorable building - one which works, and delivers the benefits of re-search and inno-vation.

"HOK has designed the Barclays Bank World Headquarters, at Canary Wharf, and the Darwin zoological centre at the Natural History Museum.Fay Gillott, programme director for UKCMRI, said: "HOK has shown the partner organisations an exciting vision for this building. We want to create a building that will serve the people of London and the UK for decades.

"The lab was anounced despite a wave of opposition from campaigners who say the publicly-owned 3.6 acre site should be used for social housing for Camden residents. Camden Council. Leader Councillor Keith Moffitt has warned it goes against the council's planning brief to build new homes.