Tate extension plan was rush job

25 April 2008

The council was responding to news that the architects are considering changing the material used for the building’s facade from glass to brick.

Planning case officer Adrian Dennis warned that such changes would require a new planning application, but pointed out that the original scheme was unusual in that it was given planning permission with a range of conditions attached. This including agreeing the facade with the local authority.

“Had it been a speculative office block, we’d have told them, ‘You’re not ready’”, Dennis said. “It wasn’t as thoroughly worked up as we’d have liked, although there was enough information to allow the planning committee to know what to expect.”

He said the decision to back the scheme was partly influenced by the wider benefits it is expected to bring to the borough.

“We didn’t sit on it,” he said. “We progressed it as quickly as we could because we supported the application. It will be a huge benefit to the borough.”

A Tate spokeswoman said that the 23,000sq m project had “just entered detailed design phase, so it is too early to comment on any changes. We expect final plans to be ready in the autumn. The budget remains the same.”

The Tate also wanted to speed through the extension because it had been awarded a £50 million government grant. At the time, then culture secretary James Purnell said this should allow the project to be completed in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.