Design review panel says 鈥渇urther design development鈥� is needed

Cabe鈥檚 design review panel has pronounced itself unconvinced by a controversial office development next to St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral designed by John McAslan.

The building鈥檚 design, at 5 Cheapside, ran into trouble earlier this year when neoclassical architect Robert Adam told a national newspaper it was a 鈥渄inosaur鈥� and a 鈥渓umpy glass box鈥�.

Cabe was certainly more supportive than Adam, but said it was not convinced by the form of the design, saying that 鈥渂asing the design of the building solely on the constraints both of the sight lines and the masterplan is insufficient to create a successful form鈥�.

It also recommended a higher quality of detailing for the scheme鈥檚 roof, and concluded by saying it could not support the scheme鈥檚 planning application until the scheme had 鈥渆volved further鈥�.

The review finished on a positive note: 鈥淲e would suggest the team have more time to develop these outstanding issues in more detail before the application is determined. We have every confidence that, given more design time, this team will resolve them. A site of this importance deserves nothing less.鈥�