Aga Khan chooses Canada

The Aga Khan's decision follows the rejection of his bid to buy part of St Thomas' site. This is the second time he has tried to secure a Thames-side site in central London. Last year he put in a bid for the Royal Army Medical College next to Tate Britain which has now become an art college.

Hospital staff had threatened to chain themselves to the railings if the part of the St Thomas' site owned by King's College was sold to the Aga Khan. Opponents had suggested that a section of Potters Fields alongside City Hall could be considered as an alternative for the Aga Khan.