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Boris Johnson is expected to overrule councillors and give the go-ahead for a skyscraper in order to secure “thousands” of jobs and £4 million for Crossrail.
The Conservative Mayor has used new planning powers for the first time to have the final say over a 63-storey hotel and flats tower in Canary Wharf.
Labour-run Tower Hamlets refused to renew permission for the 244.5 metre (802ft) Columbus Tower, which would be 10 metres taller than One Canada Square — London's tallest building. The council said the tower would block daylight from homes in Docklands and have a detrimental effect on conservation areas.
But Mr Johnson said he would make the final decision on whether it proceeds as the development was of “strategic importance” to the capital.
This is despite promises during last year's mayoral election that he would not seek to override the wishes of boroughs and residents.
He also wants developers to contribute towards the £16 billion cost of the Crossrail line that would link Canary Wharf and Heathrow. The Mayor said: “This is a decision I have not taken lightly, however the Columbus Tower proposal clearly meets the test of a planning application of major significance to the whole of London.
“Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs form a key part of my economic development strategy and I have also made it clear that I consider Canary Wharf to be suitable for tall buildings.”
He added: “There is already a planning consent for a tall building on this site and the development itself would deliver a significant contribution to Crossrail.”
A one-day public hearing will take place before the end of October, then a decision will be made.
The tower would include a 192-room hotel and more than 70 flats as well as office space.
The plans were approved previously by the council but the permission lapsed and an application to renew was refused by councillors this month.
Nick Lee, of developer Commercial Estates Group, said: “We are pleased that the Mayor has decided to take over this planning application.”
Reader views (12)
Remember this is in a LibDem Borough the real test would be a scheme at say Ealing where the developer agreed to fund the upgrade of Ealing Broadway Station which is on the Crossrail route. Would Boris do the same in a Tory borough?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 09/10/2009 12:11
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Another election lie from Boris; he promised to stop these tower blocks.
- Thomas, London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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Absolutely disgusting, what is Boris thinking? It seems there are still Ken Livingstone's cronies hanging around City Hall influencing him. When will we have a Mayor who bans these hideous buildings? London is being ruined by them.
- Sarah, London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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I wonder what the people proposing to build a new American embassy in Battersea think about the consistency of Boris' rationale for developments?
- Celia Blair, Wandsworth London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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Its in canary warf so i dont really see what the problem is, if you cant build skyscrapers there, then where can you? ...and the sight is just 100 meters from 1 canada square, i really don't believe that it could really cause problems to city airports flightpaths. a good decision, it shows that boris is at least a little flexible and able to listen to reason.
- Sean Kirwin, london, 09/10/2009 11:11
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Boris wants it all.
Columbus Tower was objected to by London City Airport. It is right in the middle of a flightpath (Not that anyone in the area has been told that)
London City Airport have said the new tower lay in the airport's flight path, for take-offs and landings, and the current design was just too tall to be safe.
Boris wants to ok the building and has agreed to expanding London City Airport - Its a catastrophe waiting to happen.
- Darren, East London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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Sarah, London. How clever of you to drag Ken into this discussion even when it's clearly all coming from your adored BoJo.
Thankfully people can see through you. And him.
- Marco, Notting Hill, London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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1. This is Canary Wharf, it's designed for tall buildings. And this isn't a "tower block", it's a skyscraper. There's a difference, but I wouldn't expect biased Brits to understand that...
2. In regards to City Airport, this tower has had Planning Permission for a good few years, it should by rights be built by now, but the investor died. It's safe. If it wasn't, it WOULDN'T get planning permission.
3. It's not bribery, I suggest you look the definition up. Boris is the one going around looking for money for YOUR benefit, so transport in London can be improved. Every developer with major schemes ongoing is expected to pay up. It's not like the developers here said "oi Boris, we'll bung ya £4 million if you give us planning permission".
This will be the best looking skyscraper in the Wharf, like it or not, not every Brit is as backward-looking as you lot. Build up instead of out, that's the way to go.
- Les Ferris, Portsmouth UK, 09/10/2009 11:11
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What a waste of money to build this new tower the money should be spent on inner city housing and bringing the run down areas back to life also opening up boarded housing in London, that will create plenty of jobs as well.
- Francis, Leics, 09/10/2009 11:11
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Excellent news. London has a cronic lack of decent skyscrapers, the developing clusters at Canary Wharf and in the City are a great addition to the skyline, the more the better. Thanks Boris!
I just wish that he would mandate the top few floors of *ALL* new skyscrapers as retail space for bars and restaurants with at least 25% to be affordable (i.e., nando's price level) so that all can enjoy equally.
- Sam, London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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"overrule councillors and give the go-ahead for a skyscraper in order to secure... £4 million for Crossrail."
Um, isn't taking money for granting planning permission generally called bribery?
- Bob, Cheam, 09/10/2009 11:11
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Going back on his promises again, wouldn't expect anything else from Blobby Johnson.
- D.W., London, 09/10/2009 11:11
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