Historic England claims City of London office development could risk Tower of London's UNESCO status

Preservation body Historic England and the City of London are in dispute over the impact future skyscraper development will have on the Tower of London.

In the latest hearing to determine the City Plan 2040, Historic England explained that it believes clear sky is needed between the Tower of London and the City of London in order to protect the historic landmark.

"Reducing the potential for harm is of vital importance"

Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, claims that plans to build offices at the eastern edge of the City of London would be a threat to the Tower of London's UNESCO heritage status.

"We are keen to work together to identify solutions to reduce the potential for further harm to the Tower of London World Heritage Site whilst still achieving major economic growth," said a Historic England spokesperson.

"Reducing the potential for harm is of vital importance to the conservation of the World Heritage Site, and we believe critical to minimising the potential for the Tower of London to be included on the List of World Heritage in Danger."

Built on the River Thames by king William I in the 11th century, the Tower of London is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hearings on the City Plan 2040, which will determine the growth of London's financial district, resumed following UK minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook's request for further consideration of the plan's impact on the Tower of London.

In June, Pennycook sought reassurances that the plan "does everything it can to protect the tower adequately against the risk of unsuitable or harmful development whilst not unduly restricting economic growth".

This caused delays to the City of London Corporation publishing the plan, which aims include a target for a minimum of 1.2 million square metres of additional office space to be built in the area.

Restriction would "harm growth without good reason"

The City of London claims that Historic England's request to create space between the castle and the district would result in a loss of crucial office development space.

"The Government has said it wants good growth in every postcode – the City's postcodes are the most economically productive in the country," said chair of the City of London planning and transportation committee Tom Sleigh.

"To harm their growth without good reason at a time of national economic urgency would be like entering a race with your shoelaces tied together. The City has grown alongside the Tower of London for nine centuries; the two have never been a choice," he continued.

"This plan makes room for the offices London needs and respects the Tower's setting – that is the balance the minister has asked the inspectors to test, and we are confident it holds. After that, business needs a decision, and soon."

The main photo is by Gavin Allanwood via Unsplash.

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