Petition to save iconic gallery street

A petition has been launched to save Cork Street’s iconic galleries in Mayfair, in response to fears that property developers are planning to demolish them and turn them into apartments, offices and retail spaces. The campaign hopes to gain 10,000 signatures before the next West End Commission meeting on 1 October.

Last month, Standard Life, the former landlord of seven of Cork Street’s galleries announced that its buildings had been sold to a property developer. This was followed by an announcement by the Pollen Estate of plans to redevelop the buildings it owns on the opposite side of the street. The private galleries have existed on the street for 90 years and are a well known tourist attraction that have featured work from prominent UK artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. 

The campaigners have highlighted both the direct and indirect loss of business from the closures, as many related art companies such as shippers and framers draw income from the area. Mayfair’s high rents mean the re-establishment of similar creative art hub will be impossible to re-create

Sign the e-petition