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City plans held over impact on Tower of London

News imageGetty Images The Tower of London viewed from across the River Thames, showing its stone walls, corner towers with domed roofs, and surrounding grounds under a blue sky, with people walking along the riverside.Getty Images
Matthew Pennycook, minister for housing and planning, wants reassurance the proposal will protect the Tower of London

Concerns about the Tower of London and its World Heritage status have contributed to the government's decision to delay the publication of a plan for the development of the Square Mile.

City of London Corporation wants to publish its City Plan 2040 which aims to boost economic growth by adding offices, as well as culture, leisure and visitor attractions, and open spaces and green corridors.

In a letter to inspectors, Matthew Pennycook, minister for housing and planning, said he wanted to seek reassurance the plan would do everything it could to protect sites like the Tower of London.

The corporation said it "strongly disagreed" with the decision and considered further hearings unnecessary.

Pennycook asked for more hearings to consider alternative tall building policies and assess the impact on heritage before planning inspectors issue their final report.

He said: "My aim here is to seek reassurance that the City Plan does everything it can to protect the Tower [of London] adequately against the risk of unsuitable or harmful development whilst not unduly restricting economic growth."

Historic England said it would "support the planning inspectors and the City of London Corporation to address the minister's instructions as a matter of urgency".

News imageCity of London Corportation A man with brown hair and wearing a navy blue suit jacket, a light blue shirt and a grey tie stands looking at the camera with the city of London in the background.City of London Corportation
Deputy Tom Sleigh, chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee, disagrees with the decision

Deputy Tom Sleigh, chair of the corporation's planning and transportation committee, said these delays were "unnecessary and anti-growth".

"To send a complete ready-to-adopt plan back for more hearings on a settled point is the wrong call, and the cost will be missed economic growth. It beggars belief," he added.

Public hearings were held last year, led by inspectors Alastair Phillips and Jameson Bridgwater, to discuss the draft plan's content.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) added: "Our world heritage sites are an irreplaceable part of this country's history and they must be protected."

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