Editing Bloomsbury (section)

==Conservation==
[[File:PiedBullYard.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Pied Bull Yard, in the Bloomsbury Conservation Area]]
All of the geographic area of Bloomsbury is covered by the Bloomsbury Conservation Area, an historic designation designed to limit new development, and ensure that changes to the built environment preserve and enhance its special character. This [[Conservation area (United Kingdom)|conservation area]] is one of the oldest and most significant in the UK, having been designated in 1968, less than a year after conservation areas were promulgated in the Civic Amenities Act 1967.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/conservation-areas/bloomsbury-conservation-area/ |title=Bloomsbury Conservation Area |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 January 2021 |website=BCAAC |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123163213/https://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/conservation-areas/bloomsbury-conservation-area/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Bloomsbury Conservation Area is almost unique in the UK in that it also has a ''conservation area advisory committee'', an expert committee of architects, planners, lawyers, and other community members that also live and work in Bloomsbury.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/our-work/ |title=Our Work |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 January 2021 |website=BCAAC }}</ref> This group was founded in 1968 by the [[London Borough of Camden|local authority]] and continues to serve Bloomsbury and the surrounding area. It is generally thought that the Bloomsbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee (BCAAC) has the most detailed knowledge of Bloomsbury's built heritage and social history due to its members having lived in the area for many decades. It is accordingly consulted with on all major and minor development proposals in the area, including traffic circulation changes, and its objections carry formal planning weight through the local authority's constitution.<ref name="auto"/>

Bloomsbury contains one of the highest proportions of listed buildings and monuments per square metre of any conservation area, including many of the UK's most iconic buildings, such as the British Museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/developers/character-maps/ |title=Character Maps |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 January 2021 |website=BCAAC |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123181526/https://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/developers/character-maps/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However its strategic location in the centre of London and associated high development pressures has seen a rise in the demolition of historic fabric, and the construction of tall and harmful development. Between 2015 and 2020 the local authority recommended approval for a total of five major developments judged to be harmful by the BCAAC,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2015/06/royal-ear-hospital-entrance-demolition-plans/ |title=Royal Ear Hospital Demolition |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 June 2015 |website=BCAAC |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208130606/https://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2015/06/royal-ear-hospital-entrance-demolition-plans/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2015/06/old-gpo-on-new-oxford-street-to-be-enlarged-and-re-clad/ |title=Old GPO to be Enlarged |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 June 2015 |website=BCAAC |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202020332/https://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2015/06/old-gpo-on-new-oxford-street-to-be-enlarged-and-re-clad/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2013/09/cartwright-gardens/ |title=Cartwright Gardens Approved |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 June 2013 |website=BCAAC |access-date=20 January 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225112116/https://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2013/09/cartwright-gardens/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/our-work/successes/ |title=Our Successes |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 January 2021 |website=BCAAC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyconservation.org.uk/2020/03/historic-hospital-demolition-approved/ |title=Historic Hospital Demolition Approved |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 March 2020 |website=BCAAC }}</ref> with the Greater London Authority approving one.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taylorwimpeycentrallondon.com/development/en/postmark |title=Taylor Wimpey Postmark |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 March 2020 |website=Taylor Wimpey }}</ref> The BCAAC were only successful in defeating one of those developments.<ref name="auto1"/>

As a result, Victorian buildings and even some of Bloomsbury's famous Georgian terraces have been demolished in recent years. This has led to sharp criticism of the local authority's approach to the conservation and preservation of Bloomsbury, with national heritage groups such as the Victorian Society and Georgian Group voicing concerns along with local groups. A local campaign associated with the BCAAC, Save Bloomsbury, has written and campaigned extensively to protect Bloomsbury's heritage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://savebloomsbury.co.uk/2020/04/11/bloomsburys-heritage-is-at-risk/ |title=Bloomsbury's Heritage is At Risk |author=Owen Ward |date=11 April 2020 |website=Save Bloomsbury }}</ref> As of 2021 Camden Council has not adopted any strategy to ensure Bloomsbury's conservation, and harmful development proposals continue to come forward.