The Guardian has dropped plans for a new events space in the Midland Goods Shed at King’s Cross designed by Bennetts Associates
Doubts over the future of the 3,000m² scheme emerged earlier this year when the struggling newspaper group admitted it was rethinking its business strategy for the building as part of a wider programme to cut its running costs by 20 per cent.
The 1850 shed, part of which has already been converted into a Waitrose supermarket by Bennetts, was to become a public area for ‘events, community gatherings and free speech’.
Featuring an open amphitheatre, a restaurant, an armchair cinema and a 3D printing and fabrication lab, the space was billed as a place that brought ’people together; to explore, debate and shape the vital intimate and global issues of our age’.
In January the Argent-led King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership said it was still hopeful the Guardian would press ahead with its proposals and said it was ’providing [the Guardian Media Group] with as much help as possible so that they can complete this soon.’
However the newspaper, which has its main offices in the nearby Kings Place building designed by Dixon Jones (2008), has now officially shelved its plans for the Grade II-listed building.
A spokesperson said: ’The concept we had planned for the Midland Goods Shed no longer fits with our business strategy.
’We will be looking to exit the lease and have advised our landlord, contractors and programming partners accordingly.’
King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership has been contacted for comment.
Goods shed east - labelled
The Guardian events space shown as number 6
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Readers' comments (1)
Robert Wakeham18 April, 2016 12:46 pm
Surely someone can take over this project, which would be an asset to an area that's recently been featured in the AJ for Thomas Heatherwick playing tricks with listed buildings and for some rather bland new high density residential developments.
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