Westminster City Council and English Heritage will contest Secretary of State's decision to grant planning for South Bank tower

Westminster City Council and English Heritage will today mount a joint legal challenge to the Secretary of State鈥檚 decision to grant planning permission for the Doon Street Tower on London鈥檚 Southbank.

UK communities secretary Hazel Blears approved Coin Street Community Builder鈥檚 plans for the 43 storey tower block in August, acting against the recommendation of a planning inspector following a public inquiry.

Coin Street plans to develop private apartments in the tower, designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, and use the income generated from these apartments to subsidise public facilities such as a local swimming pool.

English Heritage said these community benefits could be delivered from another scheme developed on a more suitable site.

English Heritage chief executive Simon Thurley said: 鈥淭his scheme would cause serious harm to London鈥檚 historic environment. The Secretary of State took the view that this harm was outweighed by the proposed community benefits. In reaching that view the Secretary of State did not consider if the community benefits could be delivered in a less harmful scheme.鈥�

Westminster City Council said the 144 metre tower will ruin London鈥檚 historic landscape and block the view from the Blue Bridge in St James鈥檚 Park, a view that has remained unchanged for over a hundred years.

Westminster City Council鈥檚 Deputy Leader, Robert Davis said: 鈥淚t is disappointing that the Government has so far failed to grasp fully the importance of protecting our heritage. The preservation of St James鈥檚 Park, one of Britain鈥檚 most beautiful parks, is far more important than creating monstrously tall towers which will destroy London鈥檚 historic skyline for generations to come.鈥�

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