Developer submitted two alternative schemes after concerns lodged about height of original 37-storey proposal

Great Portland Estates has seen both of its proposals to build towers of alternative heights a short distance away from Renzo Piano鈥檚 Shard turned down by Michael Gove.

The developer first lodged its 37-storey New City Court scheme, drawn up by AHMM, in 2018.

Concerns were raised about the height of that building so the same architect drew up a trimmed down 26-storey version which was submitted for planning in spring 2021.

New_City_Court_2021_proposals

Source: AHMM

The 26-storey version of AHMM鈥檚 proposals for New City Court, seen at the far right

But Southwark council failed to make a decision so GPE took both schemes to appeal.

In his ruling, the communities secretary agreed with the planning inspector that neither design for the same plot should be allowed, stating that the high-rise proposals would harm the historic surroundings.

黑洞社区 understands Mace had been working with GPE on the  proposals although the developer was expected to have gone out to tender for the work which was estimated to have a construction value of around 拢200m.

Under the plans, a grade II-listed run of terraced Georgian houses on St Thomas Street would be refurbished and 1980s office buildings on the site would be demolished.

The 144m tower proposed under the 2018 scheme included a 250-seat auditorium and terrace on its 21st and 22nd floors and a double-height public garden within the building on the fifth and sixth floors.

At the inquiry, the government鈥檚 heritage adviser Historic England said it 鈥渟trongly objects鈥� to both versions of the redevelopment, adding the 鈥済reatest harm鈥� from both proposals would come from their 鈥減rofound impact鈥� on the special character and appearance of the Borough High Street Conservation Area, inside which the development site is located.

Gove said the proposals were 鈥渂roadly acceptable鈥� but add that they were 鈥渦ndermined by identified shortfalls in public realm, and scale and massings鈥�.

Other firms which have been working on the scheme include project manager Gardiner & Theobald, structural engineer AKT II and QS T&T Alinea.

GPE said it was reviewing the decision.

Gove is also due to make a ruling on Make鈥檚 scheme to redevelop the ITV Studios building on London鈥檚 South Bank by early next month. The 拢400m scheme at 76 Upper Ground is due to be built by Lendlease and is being developed by CO-RE. It was called in a year ago by his predecessor Greg Clark.

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