Land Securities’ design submission for its Walkie Tower in the City failed to highlight the “critical issue” of the 525ft tower’s adverse night-time impact on St Paul’s Cathedral, a public inquiry heard today.
Robert McCracken QC, representing English Heritage this morning, said the “aggressively competing” night-time illumination of LandSec’s building was a “critical” factor in whether it should gain consent, arguing that images should have been supplied.
McCracken made the allegations alongside a string of objections to the scheme as he cross-examined architect Rafael Vinoly.
Elsewhere McCracken slated the scheme for:
· Impairing the viability of listed buildings to the north of the tower on Eastcheap
· Breaking the uniformity of Fenchurch Street by setting the building back in a “North American fashion”
· Allegedly ignoring fire/safety regulations by not meeting standard travel distances to leave the building
· Creating a “sky sahara” at its restaurant/leisure area at the top of the tower a place where it would take a “bold, brave member of public to eat without using the to pay facilities”
· Designing a building that draws the eye away from the eastern cluster in St Paul’s by becoming broader as it rises
In defence, Vinoly argued that no viewpoints would be adversely affected by the development in a City where the tradition was for “self-assured” architecture.
He added that the cluster of towers set to be built in the City complemented this tradition.
Vinoly said that in matters such as the inquiry “everything was a matter of judgement”.
