British Land is set to revise its plans for the redevelopment of a major site in Spitalfields, EC1, which has been called in by mayor of London Boris Johnson after being rejected by Tower Hamlets.
The REIT will submit a new application which includes the full retention of a pair of historic warehouses at its Blossom Street scheme, which is the subject of protests from local campaigners.
The compromise design will fully retain 12 and 13 Blossom Street instead of extending them behind retained facades.
It is not expected to have a significant impact on the overall office space delivered by Blossom Street, which will include space specifically aimed at small businesses.
The 350,000 sq ft proposed development would also include 13 shops and 40 flats.
It will now be considered by Johnson at a hearing on 18 January.
Tower Hamlets council’s rejection of the scheme came despite a recommendation to approve by its own planning officers.
Campaigners’ objections to the AHMM designs centred on concerns it would attract large corporate occupiers which would change the character of the SME-friendly area, as well as demolishing or radically altering some of the 19th century structures on the site, which sit within the Elder Street Conservation Area.
