Westminster Holocaust memorial approved by government
The government has approved the Westminster Holocaust memorial after years of wrangling and disagreements over its design and placement.
Housing minister Christopher Pincher announced today that the plans had been approved by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) after approval powers were taken away from Westminster Council last year.
The memorial will be in Victoria Tower Gardens, which sits right next to the houses of parliament, and will consist of 23 bronze fins and an underground education centre.
It was approved by the government, after a review by Ed Balls and Lord Eric Pickles.
The decision letter written by the MHCLG said Pincher “agrees with the inspector that the location next to the Palace of Westminster would offer a powerful associative message in itself, which is consistent with that of the memorial of its immediate and wider context”
It added: “The minister of state further agrees with the inspector’s conclusion that the location of the UKHMLC adjacent to the Palace of Westminster can rightly be considered a public benefit of great importance, meriting considerable weight in the heritage and planning balance.”
The memorial was first announced by David Cameron in 2016, however it has been the source of much controversy since.
Westminster Council blocked the project from gaining planning permission last year, before it was called in by the MHCLG.
Councillors argued that residents in the borough were concerned about how new developments in the park would affects its amenity.
The Save Victoria Tower Gardens campaign group has already said it will appeal against Pincher’s decision.
One of its leaders Baroness Ruth Deech said the memorial would be “divisive”.
“We passionately believe that the Holocaust should be remembered, but we believe that this ill-considered and damaging proposal will do a disservice to victims and survivors, and little to enhance understanding and respect,” she said.
Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies, welcomed the announcement.
“I am delighted that the minister of state has granted planning permission for the memorial,” she said.
“As I said to the inquiry, there will be something uniquely powerful about locating a memorial to the Holocaust right next to the centre of the UK’s democracy.”