High Court hearing for legal challenge opposing demolition of Bastion House and Museum of London

The hearing will place on 10-11 March 2026, with campaign group Barbican Quarter Organisation (BQO) challenging plans to knock down existing buildings on the site to make way for a new development.

Plans for the new development, which will consist of three office blocks, were agreed by the City of London Corporation (CLC) in April 2024, with the CLC acting as both the developer and approving authority.  

The plans were initially paused by the then Communities Secretary Michael Gove, who gave the go ahead shortly afterwards. The CLC then formally granted planning permission for the development in December 2024.  

This decision by the CLC to grant itself planning permission is contested by BQO, which launched a judicial review challenge at the start of 2025.  

BQO argues that the decision to approve the development did not follow correct procedure, and did not comply with environmental legislation and planning policy.  

The group says that the demolition of Bastion House and the Museum of London to make way for the new office blocks would result in tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide being released, despite industry experts confirming the current buildings are safe and suitable for re-purposing.  

In September 2025, the Court of Appeal granted permission for BQO’s judicial review claim to proceed. It will now be heard in the High Court next/this week on the following grounds:

• CLC failed to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations requirements to act with impartiality and objectivity when granting planning permission to themselves.   
• CLC misunderstood and/or failed to apply a local planning policy which puts in place an effective presumption that buildings will be re-used instead of demolished.   
• CLC failed to deal adequately with alternative schemes that involved less demolition – specifically in relation to the policy requirement for developers to avoid demolition through the re-use of existing buildings or their main structures. 

A spokesperson for Barbican Quarter Organisation said: 

“Barbican Quarter Organisation welcomes the forthcoming judicial review at the High Court, which provides an important opportunity to ensure that the planning process has been conducted lawfully and transparently. 

“This case is not simply about a single development proposal. It raises wider questions about the protection of heritage, the quality of architectural and urban design, and the responsibility of decision-makers to properly consider the long-term impact of major developments on the environment as well as established communities in the City of London and beyond. 

“We hope the judicial review will bring clarity to the issues raised and reinforce the importance of robust, accountable planning decisions that work to create an urban environment that is truly fit for all our futures.” 

Leigh Day solicitor Lily Hartley-Matthews, who represents BQO, said: 

“The demolition of Bastion House and the Museum of London along with the construction of three new office blocks will inevitably lead to a large amount of emissions, as demolition and rebuild schemes necessitate the manufacture of two lots of construction materials. Given the current buildings could be fit for repurpose, our client feels that the City of London is wrong to overlook a refurbishment scheme, and that it has failed to follow its own policies in granting planning permission. Barbican Quarter Organisation now look forward to making their case in the High Court.” 

Leigh Day has instructed Estelle Dehon KC and Riccardo Calzavara at Cornerstone Barristers.