Illness wasn't enough to keep the property community away from a conference held this morning on the progress of Crossrail. But while some sat coughing, eyes streaming, tissues in hand at New London Architecture's Crossrail: Impact and opportunity event it was Kevin McCauley, head of London research at CB Richard Ellis which made everyone's eyes really water.
Mc Cauley gave a stark look at the taxes that will be slapped on occupiers and developers from 2010 for the next 25 to 30 years to meet the £15bn cost of the project. The business rates supplement will increase by 2p in every £1 hiking rates in the West End by 70% by 2010 and in the City by 20%, not to mention the community infrastructure levy and section 106s.
There was much talk of visionary architecture and sparkling new station
designs, complete with sprawling public realm and art on station walls
which speakers, including Hiro Aso, director at architect John McAslan + Partners - which will be designing the station at Bond Street - was able to wax lyrical about.
But, in spite of all this talk of community space a question put to the architects, revealed that they'd forgotten all about the buskers and their designated "talent zones" which London Underground currently provides. The panel caught on the hop admitted they need to go back to the drawing board to reconsider this.
The conference drew to a close with each speaker finishing on time, as pointed out by NLA Chairman Peter Murray. "That bodes well for the project," he said, to which entire room broke out in laughter. Let's hope that's not a reflection of the project too.
But, in spite of all this talk of community space a question put to the architects, revealed that they'd forgotten all about the buskers and their designated "talent zones" which London Underground currently provides. The panel caught on the hop admitted they need to go back to the drawing board to reconsider this.
The conference drew to a close with each speaker finishing on time, as pointed out by NLA Chairman Peter Murray. "That bodes well for the project," he said, to which entire room broke out in laughter. Let's hope that's not a reflection of the project too.
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