LPG is frequently notified about planning applications that potentially encroach on London’s historic landscapes either by volunteers, Local Authorities directly, or via the Gardens Trust.
Notifications for Planning Applications via the Gardens Trust, our umbrella body, who are Statutory Consultees in the planning process are placed on the Joint Committee of the National Amenity Societies Planning Casework list.
We often rely on local knowledge from Friends groups, including those involved with the London Friends of Green Spaces Network, which represents Friends of Parks Groups across London to inform our responses.
Our volunteers meet regularly and discuss how best to respond to planning notices. To find out more and get involved as a volunteer, see our planning and conservation page. The charity receives many more cases than it can respond to at the present time; so if you would like to help us, please do get in touch to become a Planning Volunteer.
LPG Planning Volunteers assist in developing a ‘Watch list’ of gardens that could be in peril.
Victoria Tower Gardens
Our current major Campaign is to protect Victoria Tower Gardens, where the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre is scheduled to be built by the Government, removing vital land from free access as a public park. This is a long running case. The Charity has gone to court twice to stop illegal building on the park. Despite the Courts ruling in favour of LPG the Government continues to promote this scheme and is seeking new legislation to overrule the legislation which protects this park as a garden for public relaxation and enjoyment and giving open access to the riverside along the Thames.
To see our full record of championing this Grade II park, we have created a dedicated page about our campaign for Victoria Tower Gardens.
