Skyscrapers could blight central London's skyline (02/05/2007)

The skyline in central London and the West End could be blighted by a rash of tall buildings if Ken Livingstone wins new planning powers, Westminster City Council warned today.

The sensitive areas around Victoria, Paddington, Tottenham Court Road and Chelsea Barracks have been identified as "opportunity areas" in the Mayor's London plan which will "deliver ... where appropriate, tall buildings".

Although decision-making on tall buildings in Westminster is currently in the hands of the City Council, Mr Livingstone is set to be granted planning powers that will allow him to overrule the local authority on buildings which he considers "strategic".

Westminster reiterated its concerns as the GLA Bill, in which the proposals are contained, reached the Grand Committee stage at the House of Lords today (2nd May).

The Council has rejected the Mayor's claims that tall buildings are a necessity for the economy or urban regeneration and is deeply concerned that he could end up with complete control over a number of key future development sites in Westminster.

In particular, it fears the proposals for 50-storey twin towers at Victoria Station would break the currently uninterrupted roofline of Parliament as seen from the Albert Embankment.

Councillor Robert Davis, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: "We accept that the opportunity areas identified in Westminster such as Victoria, Paddington, Tottenham Court Road and Chelsea Barracks provide significant potential for growth.

"But Westminster - as the heart of London - has a thriving economy in its own right and growth can be accommodated without the need for skyscrapers.

"As a council we believe we should have the power to decide what is built in Westminster. These are decisions that are based on our detailed assessment of what is desirable in in our borough, with its unique heritage, historic buildings and world famous skyline."

Westminster is also concerned that major planning applications could suffer from long delays if the GLA Bill becomes law.

Figures show that the average time for planning applications referred to the Mayor to be decided was 24 weeks last year. In contrast, the council decided more than 80 per cent of all major applications within less than 13 weeks in 2006.

Westminster believes this will do nothing to help make the planning system more efficient.

Notes to Editors:

Other opportunity areas as identified by the Mayor include: Greenwich, Ilford, Catford, New Cross, Lewisham and Waterloo.

Why is Westminster concerned by the GLA Bill:

Our unique heritage and future environment is under threat by the plans. Westminster is home to among the largest number of listed buildings and conservation areas in the United Kingdom. We also have a World Heritage Site. In addition we contain four of London's Royal Parks as well as 70 London Squares. We believe we - and not the Mayor - are the custodians of this unique heritage.

Lack of accountability:

At present a committee of local councillors decide planning applications and can be held to account by the their constituents. Giving power to the Mayor will remove that local accountability and place decisions in the hands of a single person in a distant office.

Why the proposals run contrary to current policy:

No evidence has been presented that London's councils are failing to in their duties as planning authorities. Nor is there any evidence that Westminster is failing to provide development opportunities to increase the capacity for the economy, jobs and homes. When it comes to a supposed link between tall buildings and economic growth, there are two high level surveys which show that the connection is unsupported by evidence.

What Westminster would like to see:

Ideally we would like to see MPs reject the proposals. But if that does not happen, we want any increase in the Mayor’s powers to direct or decide planning applications to be restricted to those genuinely strategic planning applications like those for waste transfer stations, new runways and railway stations. The definition of 'strategic' should also be written into the Bill so MPs will have to debate any proposed widening of the Mayor's powers. At present, this has been defined by an order of Parliament that can easily be changed. These enhanced powers should also be matched by a new planning committee of the London Assembly for members to ensure open decision making and to provide a democratic check on decisions.