Initial designs by Lord Rogers鈥 firm for a new tower in the City of London look set to be the first victim of mayor Boris Johnson鈥檚 revamped viewing corridor policies
The redevelopment of 4 Broadgate, a British Land-owned building that is a key part of an award-winning eighties development next to Liverpool Street station, was to have been a high-rise structure designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The firm has already carried out preliminary design work.
British Land announced in 2007 that the building would have 鈥渟ubstantially increased floor areas鈥 of 390,000ft2. A planning application was to have been made by the end of 2008, but never emerged.
Now, sources close to the scheme have said that expanded viewing corridors proposed by the mayor of London earlier this month would scupper high-rise plans on the 4 Broadgate site.
It is understood that the broadening of a viewing corridor from Richmond, Surrey, to St Paul鈥檚 cathedral means development in the Broadgate area 鈥 visible from the Richmond viewing spot 鈥 is now restricted.
The new guidelines state: 鈥淚t is essential that development in the background of the view is subordinate to the cathedral.鈥
British Land said it would decide to redevelop or refurbish the existing 4 Broadgate building when market conditions improved. It said: 鈥淥bviously, we would have to adhere to whatever view framework is in place.鈥
The scrapping of the scheme caps a rotten month for Rogers after his designs for Chelsea Barracks were withdrawn by developer Qatari Diar.
The architect is also working with British Land on a 47-storey tower at 122 Leadenhall, known as the 鈥淐heesegrater鈥, which is on hold. The tower already has planning permission, so will not be affected by these changes.
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