FELIX

Our association has indeed been campaigning against the development. To see what has been happening, go to www.imperialfolly.org.uk. The planning application is due to be decided by Hammersmith & Fulham Council on July 10th. We have advised the council that we will challenge any approval to the application through the courts, following on from similar legal challenges at Earls Court, and at Shepherds Bush Market.

We have spent 18 months trying to persuade the College that a development with less commercial content, and reduced density, scale and height, is what this site needs. Are College students being told what level of profit the College intends to make on the development, with its financial partner Voreda Capital? It is worth asking. Henry Peterson, Chair St Helens Residents Association.

Hammermsmith & Fulham Council has today deferred its decision on the Imperial West Phase 2 application for the third time. The committee report was published, and the committee due to meet tomorrow evening to agree a recommendation to give the go ahead. Deferral was announced at 24 hours notice.

LBHF Councillors have clearly been worried by the volume of objections, and by the letter form lawyers Willmott Dixon advising that a decision to approve would be unlawful. Our residents association has retained these lawyers following their recent success with a legal challenge against the council on the contentious Shepherds Bush Market development. A seond legal challenge is in progress on the Earls Court development.

We believe the College has been badly advised by its consultants, in going for an excessively commercial development which has been widely opposed. This could prove a long legal battle. We are writing (for the third time) to College Council members asking them to think again.

Follow thi

I think it is very noble of you to fight your corner, but I don't think that this is really the right audience. College students aren't being told how much profit is being made, but I imagine that most won't care. I would also hazard a guess that most students would hope that it's a lot. After all, more money in the college's coffers the more money for spending on academic facilities back in South Kensington and the more money for spending on research. This would presumably result in either more research or better research, thus pushing Imperial College up in the league table rankings and making students' and alumni's degrees look even better (at the institution would be more highly regarded).

With regards to material on your website, I think you are wrong about "academic use" meaning back-office jobs. These are likely to be offices for academics working at Hammersmith Hospital, who currently have to travel to South Ken. "Academic" doesn't necessarily mean teaching!!

I would add one thing in your favour... Imperial students are charged far too much for their "subsidised" accommodation (with many private rentals being far cheaper).

"After all, more money in the college's coffers the more money for spending on academic facilities back in South Kensington and the more money for spending on research."

Ahahahaha... Yeah, Imperial gonna be spending more money on academics. Sure. Lol. Good one.

"the institution would be more highly regarded". I dont think so. If IC's consideration of people in neighbouring communities is anything to go by, I dread to think how they treat their students.
Maybe less property development and more investment in the scientific aspects of industry would provide a more appropriate ethical approach to their money making.