Earlier this year, the Government issued a ministerial direction requiring further consideration of a specific aspect of City Plan 2040 relating to tall buildings and the setting of the Tower of London World Heritage Site. As a result, adoption of the Plan could not proceed until the issue had been independently re-examined.
Independent review by independent Planning Inspectorate concluded that the City Corporation approach to managing tall buildings around the Tower of London World Heritage Site strikes a better balance between heritage protection and economic growth, than the alternative proposed by Historic England. It found the City Corporation development plan to balance growth and protection of Tower of London.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has accepted the inspectors’ conclusions and withdrawn his direction with immediate effect, finding that City Plan 2040 “clearly demonstrates a thorough and considered assessment of the balance involved in facilitating essential economic growth, while mitigating the risk of potential harm to precious heritage assets”.
“This is an outstanding result for the City, for London and for the wider UK economy.”, said Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation Chris Hayward. “The independent Planning Inspectorate has recognised that it is possible to protect one of our nation’s most important heritage assets while still supporting the growth our country needs.”
“We are grateful to the Housing Minister for his swift consideration of this matter and for acting decisively. This decision brings us another important step closer to adopting City Plan 2040, which will provide the certainty needed to support future investment, jobs and ensure the Square Mile remains one of the world’s leading business destinations.”
“This was never a choice between the Tower of London and jobs. The City was here first. William the Conqueror started his tower in 1078 in the corner of a city already a thousand years old, and the two have grown side by side ever since.”, said Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee. “Independent inspectors have now tested the plan and agreed: the Tower is protected and the City has room to grow. Credit to our planning, design and heritage officers, whose work this was. Now we adopt the plan and get on with building.”
