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Two of the best views of the Houses of Parliament have been protected by the Mayor and 11 other London views given better safeguards.
New planning rules mean tall buildings cannot obstruct the vistas from the top of Parliament Hill and the bridge across the Serpentine in Hyde Park.
Boris Johnson has restored protection to 11 views - including the 10-mile sweep from King Henry VIII's Mound in Richmond Park to St Paul's Cathedral - which were cut by Ken Livingstone.
Mr Johnson's ruling could severely curtail developments of skyscrapers in parts of the capital - any at Euston and Broadgate will be restricted to avoid spoiling the view to St Paul's.
It overturns Mr Livingstone's decision in 2007 which narrowed protected corridors through which landmarks could be seen unobstructed from places such as Richmond Park.
There will be a 150m area at King Henry's Mound from which St Paul's must be seen, widened from 70 metres. The others will be set at 300 metres except for between Westminster Pier and St Paul's, which will increase from 70 metres to 80.
Councils cannot approve a building within these corridors which obstructs views of St Paul's or Westminster, and are unable to allow a development that might damage a landmark "by unacceptably imposing on it or by creating an intrusive element in the view's foreground or middle ground".
The rules also provide better protection of central London's World Heritage Sites - the Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London and Greenwich - and the view from St James's Park to Horse Guards Parade. Planning developments already approved will not be affected.
Mr Johnson said: "We are privileged to enjoy a fabulous architectural heritage and history as we go about our daily lives. We must protect those views at all costs. This will help ensure that development fits in with that heritage and show how new buildings can enhance, rather than detract from, our favourite views."
Changes to protected views
Widened views
Alexandra Palace to St Paul's
Parliament Hill to St Paul's
Kenwood to St Paul's
Primrose Hill to St Paul's
Greenwich Park to St Paul's
Blackheath Point to St Paul's
Westminster Pier to St Paul's
King Henry's Mound to St Paul's
East side of Parliament Hill to Westminster
Primrose Hill to Westminster
New views
Top of Parliment Hill to Westminster
Serpentine Bridge to Westminster
Reader views (13)
History will commend you Boris.
- Hatchet, Newcastle, Australia, 06/06/2009 03:07
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I say "well done Boris". There will still be plenty of places and opportunities to construct high quality, high rise buildings. Once a view is lost, however, it is usually lost for ever.
- Catherine Scott, London England, 05/06/2009 14:22
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I suppose if we want to end up like Venice this is the way to go, but I want to live in a modern London, more than I do in a capital which (like Boris) harks back to historic times. We need extra development in areas not supressed by the views to accommodate growth/change. Just as we have an active vision to preserve, we need more tangible visions for areas we can develop.
- Lee Mallett, Clerkenwell, London, 05/06/2009 13:26
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With the exception of Blackheath every single one of these views is North of the river, do us South Londoners not get a look in then?
- Bob, Cheam, 05/06/2009 13:03
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Another one of Boris's misguided arguments against modern architecture in London. When will he actually come up with something useful for this city as apposed to putting unnecessary and blinkered restrictions on London’s future development? St Pauls is a great building but who's actually looking through these corridors?
- Christian, london, 05/06/2009 12:36
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Yes, stifle any further redevelopment of London when it pulls out of recession, that's a vote winner Boris. How do you expect London to grow and attract more global companies to London without building upwards? The point is by not building up we can only build outwards, which means removing more of the existing 'historical' fabric of London. Surely this causes far more damage to the prosperity of London than a well designed tall tower with a small footprint that keeps its historical neighbours ever could.
- Darren, London, 05/06/2009 12:09
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This is good news. The poposal to <X LIST> ugly buildings,mainly built 1960-1975 should be statutory. We shoud also have a London-wide campaign to get rid of clutter, including ugly street furniture, un-nesessary signs, in-appropriate hoardings etc. All new buildings MUST be built with eco=features, such as grass on the roof,rainwater collection and solar panels.
- Janes Birkett, London, UK, 05/06/2009 10:51
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Oh no more canary worfs in London! what a shame. excellent news bojo!.
- Suzie, whitechapel, 05/06/2009 10:43
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This is the best news I have heard since Boris was elected. These so called 'iconic' skyscrapers have ruined London's historical streets and destroyed any sense of individual identity London had. Boris, please start proceedings to reinstate the original Baltic Exchange in its former location, it had more charm and beauty than the hideous phallic gherkin ever could, and I would support an increase in council tax to pay for its removal from the City skyline, as well as all the others.
- David, Westminster, London, 05/06/2009 10:41
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Outstanding news and guarantees my vote for Boris in 2012. I'd go further and see the GLA start to buy up and demolish all tower blocks within London, they are no longer needed now the financial sector is dead and buried, and we can look forward to a future without these vulgar temples of failure scarring our once beautiful city.
- Frank, London, 05/06/2009 10:33
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Hurrah! At last Boris has given a sign that he is not showing his arse to every developer in London. These views are vital to London and their reinstatement and even improvement is wonderful news.
Now let’s just hope some of the towering monstrosities that have planning permission, including a couple Boris approved (against his election pledge), never come about.
- Stephen, London, 05/06/2009 10:24
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This is bad news for London's future development.
- Martin Edwards, London, 05/06/2009 10:05
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The 10-mile sweep from King Henry VIII's Mound in Richmond Park to St Paul's Cathedral is one of the great secret surprises in London. Only rediscovered a few years ago, the view through Sidmouth Wood, is always worth a detour when in the park.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 05/06/2009 09:57
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