The Greater London London Authority (GLA) has been advised that tall buildings are not essential for the capital’s future, and that existing planning laws cannot ensure quality design.
English Heritage (EH) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) raised their concerns in a meeting of the Spatial Development Strategy Investigative Committee, which scrutinises the proposals contained in the Mayor’s draft London Plan.
The committee, chaired by Bob Neill, was told that there was no firm evidence anywhere that London needed tall buildings, which could impact negatively on the city’s historical environment, and that high-density buildings could be achieved without building upwards.
EH and RIBA also stated that existing planning laws cannot guarantee that the architect who starts a scheme will be the one who sees the project through to completion, making it possible that the finished building will differ significantly from the original approved plans.
The two bodies that this could be disastrous for London’s skyline when it comes to plans for tall buildings.
Neill said: “The committee shares the concern of English Heritage and RIBA about current planning laws and this is possibly a separate issue over which the GLA, together with other partners, can lobby the government.”
The warning follows English Heritage’s request for Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State at DTLR, to call in Irvine Sellar’s London Bridge Tower scheme, which is supported by Mayor Ken Livingstone.
EGi News 02/07/01
