Historic England has updated its advice on planning and designing tall buildings, urging developers to take a “plan-led” approach to schemes.
The body has published a draft version of its tall buildings advice report, in which it defines a “plan-led” approach to building towers as: “clearly identifying areas and sites where tall buildings would be considered appropriate in principle is likely to be the most effective way of ensuring development is genuinely plan-led”.
It identifies The Leadenhall Building (the Cheesegrater) as an example of a scheme built “in a sensitive way”.
Technology has a role to play in helping to develop tall buildings, Historic England said, listing 3D modelling and virtual reality headsets as examples of technology that can aid developers.
Cambridge was listed as a city where towers have been built appropriately. “Cambridge City Council defines the definition of a tall building in a way that means, in practice, ‘tall buildings’ can vary substantially depending on the area of the city,” the report said.
The tall buildings advice will go through a public consultation and a final version is expected this summer.
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