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Boris Johnson's fury as 'boomerang' tower gets the go-ahead on South Bank
Nicholas Cecil and Mira Bar-Hillel27 Mar 2009
Boris Johnson today condemned the Government for giving the go-ahead for a 52-storey skyscraper on the South Bank.
The Mayor said it was "regrettable" that Communities Secretary Hazel Blears had backed a planning inquiry's conclusions to allow the £600 million Beetham Tower - named after the Liverpool-based developer - south of Blackfriars Bridge.
He also accused Ms Blears of "developing a worrying appetite" for intervening in decisions he believes are best taken by the London authorities.
The tower, dubbed "The Boomerang", will comprise a six-star hotel with 261 rooms, as well as 64 flats. There will also be a two-storey sky deck at the top of the tower with views over London and a shopping precinct at the bottom.
Southwark council had given planning permission for the 574ft tower but the scheme, which was backed by Ken Livingstone, was called in for a planning inquiry. Mr Johnson, English Heritage, the Royal Parks Agency, and both Lambeth and Westminster councils, had opposed the development.
Today a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The Mayor would not have approved a tall building in this location and finds the decision regrettable.
"The Secretary of State and MP for Salford has developed a worrying appetite for calling-in decisions that are best taken at the London level. It's another depressing sign that this Government wants to take every decision in Whitehall."
English Heritage had warned that the tower - at 1 Blackfriars Road - could have a "harmful and intrusive" impact on London's historic environment.
But Ms Blears concluded that it and two other tall buildings of 42 and 23-storeys at 20 Blackfriars Road were appropriate.
Hugh Frost, chairman of the Beetham organisation, said: "The development is a vital part of the regeneration of the south bank of the Thames."
Reader views (22)
Reasonable people can disagree over whether this planning decision should be made by Southwark council (if it is deemed to have only a local impact), or by Boris (if it's considered a project of importance to the city as a whole).
But there's no way the national govt should get involved. This is not a project of national significance.
When decisions get taken at the wrong level of government, the result is that people feel powerless to influence them through the democratic process. For example people might decide which way they vote in a local or mayoral election on the basis of planning issues. But they won't do so at a national level, because other issues dominate in general elections. So decisions made at too high a level of government are effectively made in an undemocratic way.
- Kev, Bromley, 20/04/2009 00:06
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Yes!!!Beetham tower is go.This will be a building that I can see growing from my work windows.How can anyone condemn this?
- H.J.Jones, London UK, 08/04/2009 11:20
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These buildings are a real danger trap in times of fire, flood, other natural disaster, power failure, or civil unrest. No brilliant objective forward thinking has gone into this or the others and I would hate to be trapped in one.
- Helen, norwich, 07/04/2009 13:51
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Whether this building looks nice or awful is neither here nor there- it's a taste thing. Surely the key thing is the usual Boris nonsense here? So yes, Boris is right when he "also accused Ms Blears of "developing a worrying appetite" for intervening in decisions he believes are best taken by the London authorities".
Mmmm, now Southwark Council made the decision to approve-for a building in its own borough- and Boris disapproved. So does he really think these decisions are "best taken by the London authorities [BUT ONLY WHEN I AGREE WITH THEM)"??! You can't have it both ways Boris. You took a 'strategic' decision that this building impacted on Greater London beyond Southwark- which is your right. But Hazel Blears has intervened and used her 'strategic' national level authority to say whilst the building may have impacts, it is in the national interest that it is built. This is called three-tiered Government Boris. You are a strategic regional Mayor- perhaps less focus on bus design, tree planting and photo ops, and more focus on the statutory duties given to your position by the Govt, will help you to understand the Govt's position?...
- Toby Hall, London, UK, 31/03/2009 10:09
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Awful architecture. More wretched tall buildings. It's not what London wants - it's about developers' and architects' egos and phallic substitutes.
It's going to dominate the area and block my view - why wouldn't I hate it. I love modern buildings but hate tall ones.
Why can't Boris have any say in this?
- Phil, London, UK, 28/03/2009 10:37
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D.J, Jono, Ben etc - English Heritage did not call in this scheme - the secretary of state did, as she is entitled to do. EH provided advice on its impacts to the local planning authority – Southwark - and said they should determine the applications as the harm caused by the towers was not so severe as to merit an inquiry – the SOS took a different view. EH has no power to call-in a scheme – only a SOS can do so. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but as many people feel that some London locations are more appropriate than others for tall towers – its not about a fear of the new – its about encouraging new architecture to respond to the city context.
- Iain, London, 27/03/2009 16:32
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So the Mayor wants to stop a further investment of £600m in hotel and housing accommodation...and his reason for this is that its a "tall building"..WOW
It looks fantastic, goes a long way to improving the local architecture and streetscape, resolves the shortage of quality hotel accommodation in the area, and provides jobs.
I agree with others that English Heritage needs to have its budget trimmed if all they can do is carry out inquiries into every planning application over 10 floors. Why are we funding these people, shoul'nt they be preserving the buildings on the "at risk" register if they have any spare cash?
- D.J.,London, London,UK., 27/03/2009 12:58
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I completely agree Ben. English Heritage really needs to get on with preserving the great buildings of our past and stop wasting vast amounts of money on opposing the fantastic buildings of our future, which this certainly is an example of.
Bobby, how exactly is this 'ruining our wonderful city'? For goodness sake man.
David, please inform me with your obvious expansive knowledge which beautiful buildings are being destroyed by this proposal?
Haha, I just don't understand why so many people in this country have such an odd, inbuilt fear of modernity. Good design is good design, be it old or new, just becuse something is tall doesn't make it bad either!
The PI was an absolute waste of time but at least the right verdict has been reached
- Jono, London, 27/03/2009 01:25
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Boris' policies on high rise buildings seem to change every month.
- D.W., London, 27/03/2009 00:18
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Big mistake. Apart from anything else when the oil starts to run low anything about about 7 floors will be a no-goer.
- Zac Goldsmith, London, UK, 26/03/2009 22:38
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As Boris (and the Evening Standard) knows well, London had it's chance to decide if the towers were to proceed and it did democratically during the previous Mayor term. His cheap dig at Blears constituency is yet another sign of weak party politics...if we're going to play that pathetic game then perhaps someone born in New York should be Mayor of London!
- David, Crouch End N8, 26/03/2009 22:09
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Sour grapes Boris?
Just because some of your pet schemes have been refused.
- Andrew, London W1, 26/03/2009 21:28
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Roll on the General Election and the end of New Labour!!!
- Mark A, Warrington England, 26/03/2009 21:09
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We've learnt nothing from the sixties when we destroyed so many beautiful buildings in the pursuit for ever taller bloks of flats. London is being ruined by these monolithic in your face blocks and need to be stopped. Shame on your Boris for not doing more to stop these.
- David, Chelmsford, 26/03/2009 17:27
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Get rid of this NuLab government ruining our wonderful city. Boris for prime minister.
- Bobby, Southwark, 26/03/2009 17:23
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yes I agree, English Heritage really does have to give up fighting new architecture - it has now been involved in around 9 public enquiries trying to stop tall buildings in London - and has lost each and every one. Trotting out the old 'harmful and intrusive' to London's historic environment is meaningless and clearly impresses no one.
This tower is stunning and will give a much needed transformation to a bleak, miserable area of London.
- Ben Veasey, london, 26/03/2009 17:16
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London is built on clay.
Lets hope it doesn't wobble like the new bridge did; or become a target like the twin towers was.
On the political side; Boris runs london; nor Blears; if Boris is not running London; then why is he there???
- Mickyinlondon, london, 26/03/2009 17:09
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That will really fit in with the surrounding architecture.
The city it ain't, and even in the city there are not that many super high rise buildings.
Shame.
- Flo, London, UK, 26/03/2009 16:56
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This is the right decision. I am not somebody who would blindly support a skyscraper in any location as some would - Will Fox, London you know who you are, but this area, is a hole and this will make a massive difference. English Heritage should concentrate on maintaining crumbling old buildings rather than fighting new ones
- Tony, London, 26/03/2009 16:29
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Fantastic news... this will be a soaring, iconic addition to the capital's skyline. I can't wait to visit the public viewing deck at the top. It really is sad to see people affected by this hysterical phobia of tall buildings. London isn't just a historic city - it's also a place for modern, cutting edge architecture. The city needs to grow and evolve, and it's clearly more efficient to build upwards.
The Gherkin was controversial at the time, but everyone loves it now - the same will be true of this Beetham Tower, as well as the Shard of Glass going up at London Bridge. People need to stop being so negative and accept that London is a thriving, dynamic world city that is constantly changing and evolving. Bring on the skyscrapers, I say.
- Will Fox, London, 26/03/2009 16:26
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Pot calling the kettle black again - how many unsightly towers has he given approval to in recent months?
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 26/03/2009 15:58
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If you live in it's shadow invoke the ancient light law....
- Ian, London, 26/03/2009 15:53
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