Platinum Jubilee Landmarks at appeal

A variety of landmarks in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee have been proposed and, as is the nature of landmarks, they tend to be highly visible and controversial. The most contentious crop up in appeal Decision Notices, so over 2022 we will keep a running tally of appeal DNs on Platinum Jubilee landmarks. At the end of the year we’ll invite votes on which you think are the best proposals, irrespective of whether they were lost or won at appeal.

Platinum Jubilee Appeals allowed so far:

1. Cold Law, Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland

The proposal is a publicly accessible landmark, commissioned to, "commemorate Queen Elizabeth II and the commonwealth”.  It is intended to appear as though a thin slice had been taken from the upper parts of the hill and raised upwards. The 55 metre high weathering steel will have 95 fins to represent the Queen’s age at the Jubilee and will point to the sun’s zenith on the mid-summer solstice. 

Although the proposers and the Inspector take care not to characterise the proposed landmark, it looks to me like a giant sundial.  After careful consideration of landscape impact including the nearby windfarm, the appeal was allowed by on 1st November 2021.

Platinum Jubilee Appeals dismissed so far:

1. One million Queen sculpture, Achilles Way, London

The Queen’s head profile sculpture is made from crystals and illuminated by spotlights. The sculpture is set within a glass panel, which measures around 5.6 metres tall and 3 metres wide, and sits on a large traffic island bounded by Achilles Way and Park Lane.

This artwork was displayed for 6 months in 2019 under a temporary planning consent.  A proposal to extend the timescale to include the Platinum Jubilee year in 2022 was refused due to its harmful impact on numerous surrounding listed buildings and on the Royal Parks Conservation Area.  On appeal, the Inspector was, “mindful that Planning Practice Guidance advises that it will rarely be justifiable to grant a second temporary permission” and dismissed the appeal.

Up-and-coming Platinum Jubilee appeals

If you know of an appeal that is not yet listed here (perhaps because a Decision Notice has not yet been issued), please email info@appealfinder.co.uk and we’ll ensure it is included in the next update.

Landmarks not needing planning consent

In September 2021 the Queen launched her ‘‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’ campaign by planting a tree with schoolchildren at Balmoral.  The most far-reaching landmark of the Platinum Jubilee may well be the tens of thousands of individual trees carefully chosen and lovingly planted by the public.  Whether an appellant’s scheme is allowed or dismissed, every appellant has an opportunity to mark the occasion with at least one tree.

From King Offa to Queen Elizabeth II

75 years ago one of the landowners on Offa’s dyke 4km east-south-east of Welshpool planted a mix of baby spruce and larch trees, set out so Elizabeth II Regina would one day be visible from the air.  Perhaps developers across the country will do likewise in their planting schemes in 2022.

To search for appeals of interest to you, see our Home page.