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This application was not a million miles away from being acceptable to planners, conservation officers, (some) heritage groups and the committee. I suspect what irked the planners and committee in particular was the lack of compromise on a couple of points around the corner design and the details of the walkway. The officers's report, recommending approval ended:

"Officers have sought revisions to the scheme to change the scale and materiality of the proposed extension so that it better reflects its context within the conservation area, but the applicants are convinced of the merit of the scheme as proposed."

I know of no-one at that meeting or within the consultees that does not support the principle of a larger museum. LB Hackney supported an enlarged museum, but quite simple didn't want it at *any* cost.

I guess, strategically, the applicant was either ill advised to hold out on these points or just plain got it wrong.

It would be a shame if it was all for nought, but whether, in the face of this bruising, Chipperfield is prepared to pick up his pen again remains to be seen.