Twentieth Century Fox’s former HQ faces the threat of imminent demolition after developers submitted a new set of plans, it has been revealed.
Situated in London’s Soho Square, in the heart of the capital’s traditional film-making district, the distinctive building housed the UK arm of the Hollywood studio from its construction in 1937 until Disney purchased the studio’s parent company 21st Century Fox in March 2019.
The building, known as Twentieth Century House, is owned by Royal London Asset Management applied for planning permission to demolish the building and redevelop the site in May 2019. However, after a campaign supported by Paul McCartney, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, director Mike Leigh, and A Private War star Rosamund Pike, Royal London submitted revised plans in March.
Tim Lord, chair of the Soho Society, told Screen: “This 1930s building has deep associations with the film industry and Soho’s heritage and sits well in one of London’s oldest squares, which contains 16 listed buildings including Soho’s only Grade 1 building, the House of St Barnabas.”
A string of objections have been made on Westminster Council’s website, but the Soho Society are urging more to be registered before the deadline on 2 June.
Film producer Colin Vaines, a founder member of Save Soho, added: “The basic issue here is that the existing building from 1937 fits perfectly in the square, has historic links to Soho history with the film business, and could be refurbished for future requirements (and who knows what they will be in a post Covid-19 world?).”
The Soho Society has also raised concerns over the fate of the distinctive lettering over the building’s portico, which appeared to have been removed without permission. However the well-known neon company sign, which was fixed to the building’s roof, is now in Disney’s archive.
• This article was amended on 2 June 2020 to correct the statement that Royal London purchased the building in 2019; it has in fact owned it since 1996.
