Planning Applications

Maquette statue of Sir Keith Park created by international sculptor Mr. Leslie Johnson

CGI image of the Sir Keith Park statue on the 4th Plinth, Trafalgar Square

CGI image of the Sir Keith Park statue, Waterloo Place

Westminster City Council Planning Applications

The Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign was launched on 7th March 2008 when Battle of Britain pilots, senior serving RAF officers, a great-great niece of Sir Keith Park, politicians and many other supporters assembled in Trafalgar Square beside a full-size replica Spitfire.

Since the Campaign's launch we have received overwhelming support from: Boris Johnson, Mayor of London; the GLA; over 10% of all UK MPs have signed 'EDM 490 - Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign'; a number of House of Lords members from all parties, and well known former politicians such as Tony Benn, Lord Tebbit and Cross-party support of all the New Zealand political parties. Alongside this political support we have received the support of the RAF; Battle of Britain veterans; ex-services organisations; members of the Park family both resident in the UK and NZ and well-known individuals such as Sir Patrick Moore, Dan Snow, Edward Fox OBE and Dr. Stephen Bungay. Thousands of people have now signed the Campaign’s petition in both in the UK and New Zealand, from the Commonwealth and around the world.

On 30th October 2008, the Campaign unveiled a maquette statue, produced by internationally respected sculptor, Mr. Leslie Johnson, this event was held at City Hall, Office of the Mayor of London and was a great success with huge support for the statue expressed by the many supporters who attended. If you would like to view this maquette statue of Sir Keith Park it is on public display at City Hall next to the maquette of the currently running 4th Plinth installation ‘One & Other’ by Antony Gormley.

Following the unveiling at City hall, both applications for a temporary statue on the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square and a permanent statue in Waterloo Place were then submitted along with the actual maquette statue to Westminster City Council Public Art Advisory Panel (WCCPAAP), a panel who offer advice to Westminster City Council Planning Department on planning submissions concerning new statues. The response from the WCCPAAP was extremely positive regarding the final form of both the temporary and permanent statues.

The Campaign then submitted it’s official planning applications for both a temporary statue on the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square and a permanent statue in Waterloo Place, to Westminster City Council Planning Department in very early 2009.

On Thursday, 7th May 2009, Westminster City Council Planning Committee passed the planning applications for both a temporary statue of Sir Keith Park on the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, for six months to be unveiled on 4th November 2009, and a permanent statue of Sir Keith Park to be unveiled in Waterloo Place on the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, 15th September 2010. (Further detailed information about both applications are listed below).

Planning Application 4th Plinth, Trafalgar Square

The planning application for the temporary statue of Sir Keith Park on the 4th Plinth was submitted to Westminster City Council Planning Department in very early 2009.

The planning application for a temporary statue of Sir Keith Park on the 4th Plinth, Trafalgar Square, for six months, was considered and passed on Thursday, 7th May 2009, by Westminster City Council Planning Committee. This statue of Sir Keith Park will be unveiled on 4th November 2009.

The temporary statue is currently being fabricated at WETA Workshop, New Zealand, and will be produced from a 3ft (1m) statue, representative of the maquette statue, unveiled at City Hall on 30th October 2008 and created by Mr. Leslie Johnson, internationally renowned sculptor. Images of this event can be found on the 'Images' page of this website. WETA Workshop is co-owned by Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger and Peter Jackson (director of Lord of the Rings), they produced the special effects and models for all three 'Lord of the Rings' epic films and have achieved numerous awards in their time of production. Once completed the 15ft (5m) statue will be shipped from New Zealand to London in preparation for the unveiling on the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square, on 4th November 2009.

For further information on Mr. Leslie Johnson and WETA Workshop please click on the following links:
www.lesjohnsonsculptor.com
www.wetaworkshop.co.nz

Planning Application Waterloo Place

The planning application for the permanent statue of Sir Keith Park in Waterloo Place was submitted to Westminster City Council Planning Department in very early 2009.

The planning application for a permanent statue of Sir Keith Park, was considered and passed on Thursday, 7th May 2009, by Westminster City Council Planning Committee. The permanent bronze statue of Sir Keith Park will grace a new Plinth in Waterloo Place; the unveiling will be a principal part of the RAF's celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and will take place on 15th September 2010.

A 3ft (1m) tall statue based on the maquette statue unveiled at City Hall has now been sculpted by Mr. Leslie Johnson at his workshop, in Hampshire. This statue will shortly be delivered to the 'Bronze Age Sculpture Casting Foundry' where they will begin the first stages to produce a 9ft (3m) statue in bronze to be unveiled on the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in Waterloo Place.

For further information on the 'Bronze Age Sculpture Casting Foundry' please click on the following link: www.bronzeage.co.uk

Thank you for your continued support. With these two statues the Campaign aims to honour Sir Keith Park and offer a small memorial to recognise the contribution of Sir Keith Park and all those that served with him in the Batlle of Britain.