At 306m the London Bridge Tower will be the tallest building in Europe and the sixth highest skyscraper ever built. English Heritage has heavily criticised the scale of the building and said this week that it was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� at Prescott鈥檚 decision. It said that the tower would be an inappropriate addition to the London skyline: it is particularly concerned about how it will impinge on views of St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral and the Tower of London.
CABE鈥檚 opposition to the scheme is more complex. At the inquiry CABE deputy chairman Paul Finch acknowledged that the tower would be an 鈥渙utstanding new feature for the London skyline,鈥� and called his organisation a reluctant objector.
At the planning enquiry in May, the architectural watchdog said its prime concern was the quality and size of the public space at the tower鈥檚 base. Finch said that 鈥渢he public realm benefits should match the scale and ambition of Piano鈥檚 tower鈥� and called for the whole London Bridge station area to be masterplanned.
CABE鈥檚 view drew a stinging response from Lord Richard Rogers who called the body鈥檚 objection an 鈥渁bsolute mistake鈥�. He describes Piano鈥檚 design as a 鈥渢rue masterpiece鈥� and by rejecting the tower on the grounds of the public space he said that CABE was throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
The quango鈥檚 stance may have been uncompromising but it seems to have won some concessions. At the inquiry, Southwark council said it would be setting up a strategic development management group to tackle the issues surrounding the environment at the base of the tower.
CABE also said this week that it was encouraged by the work undertaken by the developer and the Greater London Authority in respect of the public realm and transport improvements. CABE has further grounds for optimism: the tower鈥檚 developers Sellar Properties and CLS Holdings have purchased the 20-storey New London Bridge House close to the tower鈥檚 site. Southwark council believes that this purchase will allow the developer to provide more public space.
Though John Prescott has given consent, CABE is still pressing for improvements 鈥� as its response to the ruling makes clear: 鈥淎s the developer has now bought the adjoining site, we hope that this will enhance the prospect of further improvements to the area that we have consistently sought.鈥�
We will know how influential CABE has been in six years time when London鈥檚 largest landmark is due for completion.
