Project backers seek to overturn mayor of London鈥檚 veto
The project team behind Foster + Partners鈥� controversial Tulip tower has formally launched an appeal over its rejected plans for the 305m tall tourist attraction.
Papers lodged with the City of London Corporation confirm that the team, backed by billionaire financier and Gherkin owner Jacob J Safra and which includes cost consultant Alinea and construction consultant Skanska, is seeking to challenge last summer鈥檚 planning refusal for the structure, dictated by mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
Members of the City鈥檚 planning and transportation committee had given their backing to the project at a meeting in April 鈥� where Historic England鈥檚 concerns over the tower鈥檚 impact on views of the Tower of London world heritage site were rejected by elected representatives.
But the size of the project, which included multiple observation levels 鈥� including external gondolas, a restaurant and 鈥渟ky bar鈥�, and education space 鈥� in a 12-storey structure at the top of a slender concrete shaft, meant the City鈥檚 backing was subject to Khan鈥檚 approval.
The mayor used his planning powers to instruct the City to refuse consent despite their support. Khan said the proposal 鈥渨ould not constitute the high standard of design required for a tall building in this location鈥� and would cause harm to the 鈥渙utstanding universal value鈥� of the Tower of London world heritage site鈥�.
The Tulip team鈥檚 challenge was lodged three days before the six-month appeal window expired. Dates for the hearing have yet to be set.
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