London mayor Boris Johnson has deferred a decision on Bishopsgate Goodsyard, E1, after Hammerson and Ballymore requested more time to respond to concerns raised by Greater London Authority planners.
The £800m scheme was due to be considered on 18 April, but is now likely to be decided by Johnson’s successor after the mayoral election on 5 May.
It comes after a GLA report published on 8 April recommended rejection, saying the density, height, massing and layout of the site were not appropriate as they would block sunlight and harm heritage sites.
The developers, which have been working on the 10-acre Shoreditch scheme since 2003, have attempted to reconcile the desires of the two local authorities in which the site lies – Hackney and Tower Hamlets – as well as numerous local groups campaigning to preserve the area.
Plans includes more than 1,350 new homes, 700,000 sq ft of office space and 5.5 acres of new public realm.
Johnson’s final planning decisions as mayor will be on two major Tower Hamlets plans that have also been called in – Far East Consortium’s Alpha Square, E14, and Northern & Shell Investments No 2’s Westferry Printworks, E14. A public hearing for the two schemes is due to take place on 27 April.
