How the new Moorfields site will look

A NEW state-of-the-art eye care centre complete with clinics and research facilities is set to be built in King’s Cross.

Planning consent was due to be granted last night (Thursday) for seven Victorian buildings that are part of St Pancras Hospital to be demolished at a site in St Pancras Way.

They will be replaced with a purpose built, seven-to-ten-storey new home for the world famous Moorfields Eye Hospital.

In its application, Moorfields said its current clinics based near Old Street underground station are made up of small-scale historic buildings, some built more than 100 years ago.

“The ageing facilities at City Road are no longer fit for purpose, do not meet modern standards and maximise opportunities to deliver excellent science, and do not meet patient expectations,” it said.

The St Pancras Hospital, which dates from the 1885 but contains workhouses from earlier periods, is owned by the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation, which plans to move a number of clinics and services to the Whittington Hospital and some other sites in King’s Cross.

Moorfields and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology plan to sell their City Road headquarters site and re-invest the money raised into the new facility.

The application adds that the remaining land would be redeveloped in partnership with King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership, the group which has re-built the railwaylands behind the stations.

It plans to retain some office space and clinics at St Pancras as part of the new development, which could include housing and shops.

The Victorian Society had called on designers to tweak the plans for the new Moorfields building.

In an objection to planners in Camden – the new site is on the Camden side of the borough borders – it agreed with the principle of the scheme, but added the new building would “destroy” other Victorian landmarks.

Criticising the height and bulk of the new buildings, the Society said it would “impose” on the remaining wings and said a facade boasting swathes of glass would detract from the mainly brick buildings around it.

They said: “The relative completeness of the site, with former workhouse and ancillary buildings, are a key feature and development will destroy the legibility of this.”

But planning officers said designs would not affect a nearby listed Victorian workhouse, and the loss of three buildings deemed to be historic assets is acceptable.