News Update

The Pollen Estate planning application was approved on 05/03/13 by Westminster City Council’s Planning Applications Committee. The Pollen Estate has agreed to:

1. Increase the number of ground floor retail units to make them small in size and frontage, comparable to the units currently existing.

2. Sign a S106 legal agreement that requires that the same amount of art gallery space that currently exists on the site will be re provided in the ground floor retail units, which will only be let to art or antiquary galleries at reasonable market rents.

The Native Land planning application has been submitted to Westminster City Council’s Planning Applications Committee who are expected to review the application in June.

Background

For almost 90 years, Cork Street in Mayfair has been one of the most famous streets for art galleries in London, and possibly the world.  Cork Street is known and loved not only in Britain but internationally, and provides a major draw to London and the UK throughout the course of a year.

The history and atmosphere of Cork Street, as well as its close proximity to the Royal Academy of Arts, make this a unique place to visit for collectors, art enthusiasts, students and tourists alike.

A large part of Cork Street is in danger of being turned into non-art retail spaces.  The Save Cork Street Campaign, representing all of the galleries on Cork Street, was formed in August 2012 in response to these planned developments.