South west London’s 19-storey Colliers Wood Tower office block has been voted the capital’s ‘most hated’ building in a BBC London poll.
The huge concrete, glass and steel building, which looms over nearby Victorian terraces, took 52% of 512 email votes, with the Tower Hotel, on the Thames north bank taking second place with 23%.
Third place was taken by the South bank arts complex on 11%, with the Swiss Re building, fourth with 8%.
The demolition of another London eyesore, the County Hall Island Block near Waterloo Station, which began on 25th May, prompted BBC London to run the poll.
The results came as no surprise to residents of Colliers Wood who have previously voted it “the worst thing about living in Colliers Wood”.
Due to the tower’s location above a Tube line, demolition of the building is a difficult and expensive proposition.
Instead there are plans to knock down the car park and replace it with a new development which will include a library, as well as brightening up the tower itself which will be partly turned into flats.
Merton council is expecting a planning application within weeks.
References: EGi News 21/06/06
