Tulip skyscraper approved for London

The City of London’s planning committee has approved Foster + Partners’ controversial Tulip tower next to the Gherkin despite significant opposition from heritage campaigners.

Following officers’ recommendations, councillors voted 18 votes to seven in favour of the 305m-tall tourist attraction at 20 Bury Street in London’s Square Mile on 2 April.

The proposals had been heavily opposed by Historic England and Historic Royal Palaces. Both had objected to its impact on the views of the Tower of London, as well as the Greater London Authority which said it had ’significant concerns’ about its design.

In the days running up to the meeting, Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson described the building as ‘a lift shaft with a bulge on top’, while Historic Royal Palaces chief executive John Barnes had previously said approval ‘would be a fundamental and irreversible mistake’.

But though the planning officers admitted the design would detract from the setting and the significance of the Tower of London’s World Heritage Site, they argued that ‘due to its height and form’ the scheme would cause ‘less than substantial harm’ and was therefore acceptable. 

The project could begin on site as early as 2020 with completion scheduled for 2025.

Adapted from original article on Architect's Journal .