Secretary of State permits boutique hotel on historic Whitechapel Bell Foundry site

The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has granted consent that permits development of a hotel on the site of the historic Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The decision followed a public inquiry in October 2020. Re-Form Heritage, Factum Foundation and its many partners and supporters are deeply disappointed by the decision. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry site is Britain’s oldest single-purpose industrial building where Big Ben, the Liberty Bell, Bow Bells and many of the world’s great bells were made. Re-Form Heritage opposed the hotel development at the October planning inquiry, presenting a viable alternative through a partnership with Factum Foundation to reinstate production of bells on the site and advance bell founding innovation by combining traditional manufacturing skills with new technologies. The Secretary of State’s decision ends hope that the long-term future of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry site can be secured through…