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Less is best for revised St Paul's office scheme
Mira Bar-Hillel, Property Correspondent17 Mar 2008
An eight-storey office block next to St Paul's Cathedral which has breached guidelines to protect the London skyline is to be demolished and replaced with a new building.
Plans have been submitted by developers St Martins for a new block that will wrap around one side of the 17thcentury cathedral as part of a new scheme to provide high street shops and office space for City workers.
The new block will only be six storeys high - the height limit of current planning regulations around the cathedral.
And in addition to clearing the cathedral's historical sight lines, the £35 million proposal will also create a covered area - the size of a tennis court - for people entering and leaving St Paul's Tube station.
Architect John McAslan told the Standard: "The existing building was built before the St Paul's heights policy came in and took effect and is two storeys too high.
"The new design lowers the level and also cantilevers over the station concourse to provide shelter.
"In addition, we are realigning the exit to the station so that it faces the cathedral itself, rather than facing Newgate Street".
Critics, including supporters of Prince Charles, have attacked the design by the man the Prince called "that steel and glass man" for being out of harmony with Sir Christopher Wren's 17th-century masterpiece.
Classical architect Robert Adam described the scheme as "a dinosaur" and a "lumpy glass box".
But Mr McAslan said it is the first step in a scheme which aims to link St Paul's to the Bank of England by redeveloping Cheapside as a thriving new working and shopping hub.
The plans, which will be decided by the Corporation in May, are also backed by English Heritage which welcomes the reduction in height of the main building.
A City insider said the Corporation was also keen to see the St Paul's skyline-cleared, while at the same time respond to the demand by City workers and companies for better offices, shops and facilities.
The source said: "Cheapside as a whole is undergoing the greatest redevelopment since the Blitz. It will bring a shopping experience in the style of Marylebone High Street to the heart of the world's leading financial centre".
Reader views (6)
"How can a council be so incompetent that to approve and allow a development only to find it has breached guidelines and needs to be demolished." If you read the article you will see that it says: "The existing building was built before the St Paul's heights policy came in and took effect and is two storeys too high"
- Sam, London, UK, 18/03/2008 12:04
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Josh, why don't you try reading the story first ?
Architect John McAslan told the Standard: "The existing building was built BEFORE the St Paul's heights policy came in and took effect and is two storeys too high.
- Danny, London, UK, 18/03/2008 11:07
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Jack - the Corporation of London will decide upon this planning application. The Corporation is the only 'council' in the country whose councillors are elected by businesses. As well as the small number of local residents, businesses also get votes allocated according to their size - when I worked for a company in the City, an email came round saying 'we've got votes in the City of London elections - who wants one?' It's a democratic travesty and should be abolished. Businesses wouldn't need to buy councillors - they actually elect them!
The protection of one of Britain's outstanding pieces of heritage is in the hands of business. No wonder it's being surrounded by ever more offices.
- Janet P, London, UK, 18/03/2008 10:23
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Another "shopping experience"? Why, that's what we all need, isn't it? In other words, another historic London street is to be turned into a trashy mall. The sheer vulgarity that is overtaking our city is disgusting.
- Ken, Bexleyheath,UK, 17/03/2008 17:37
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Is there any point in asking who approved these designs or will we have to trawl through certain peoples election "donations" to find out which board of directors financed them?
- Jack Dilad, Borough, UK, 17/03/2008 13:48
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How can a council be so incompetent that to approve and allow a development only to find it has breached guidelines and needs to be demolished. The corporation of London is a council that is out of touch and irrelevant; and now it appears is incapable of understanding the law!
- Josh, London, 17/03/2008 12:40
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