Frogmore’s plans for a 44,870 sq m (483,000 sq ft) 14-storey office building next to London’s County Hall have been turned down by the Secretary of State.
The developer is now pinning its hopes on a smaller 40,783 sq m (439,000 sq ft) 12-storey scheme, which is also subject to a planning inquiry.
The 14-storey scheme (Frogmore’s first set of plans for the One Westminster Bridge site), was called in by the Secretary of State in June following concerns by English Heritage that it was too tall, and would have a negative impact on County Hall and the Westminster Abbey world heritage site.
On September 28 a letter sent to Frogmore’s planners, Montague Evans, on behalf of DTLR secretary Stephen Byers, said that he agreed with English Heritage’s objections against Frogmore’s 14-storey scheme, but had no objections to its design.
Frogmore is now pinning its hopes on overturning a call-in of its revised 12-storey scheme by London’s Mayor Livingstone, who blocked it on the grounds that it would present an “unacceptable appearance because of the standard of architectural design”.
The developer lodged an appeal against Livingstone’s decision on September 3 and expects to get a decision in the New Year.
Both schemes were designed by Gensler.
EGi News 04/10/01
