Boris intervenes on Isle of Dogs towers

Aaron Morby 11 years ago
Share

The London Mayor has stepped in over a planning strategy for the Isle of Dogs amid concerns that too many tall buildings could ruin the capital’s skyline.

Mayor Boris Johnson has intervened to speed up a masterplan for South Quays after several proposals for high rise developments have sprouted up for the site in recent months.

South Quay in Tower Hamlets is made up of numerous small plots of land and many of the individual landowners want to construct their own tall buildings.

The Mayor said that he was concerned that without an overall strategy for South Quay, the tall buildings proposed could have a negative impact on London’s skyline and the public realm.

The new masterplan will establish key priorities for the area so that new buildings are delivered in a planned, sustainable and responsible way.

Sir Edward Lister, Deputy Mayor for Planning said: “South Quay is enjoying unprecedented interest from developers all of whom want to bring forward their own plans.

“While we want to see the comprehensive regeneration of the area, what we cannot allow is a situation where planning is granted on a first-come-first-served basis with no overall strategy, as this could eat up valuable space, have a negative impact on the public realm and potentially cause other schemes to collapse.

“This Masterplan will allow us to take a coordinated approach so that this growth is managed in a sensible way with developers coordinating their proposals. It will allow us to maximise the area’s huge potential while ensuring that all development contributes directly to the sustainability of the area.

“The Mayor firmly believes that tall buildings play a valuable role in addressing some of our housing needs but it is essential that the right buildings are built in the right places.”

By working with the council, the Mayor hopes that the Masterplan will be brought forward more speedily so that there is clarity for developers about what schemes are suitable.

The Mayor also intends to develop an Opportunity Area Planning Framework to building on the work of the Masterplan and addressing the wider Isle of Dogs.

Latest news

Home office says sorry to FP McCann after site raid

Precast concrete contractor wins damages over "entirely erroneous and unfounded allegation"
6 hours ago

Groundworks firm Corbyn goes under

£33m-turnover specialist now in hands of administrators
13 hours ago

Court ruling opens floodgates for legacy defect claims

Barratt wins test case unlocking 30-year defect claims on sold buildings
21 hours ago

Morgan Sindall wins Crystal Palace sports centre revamp

Major upgrade to iconic South London venue
17 hours ago

Bowmer + Kirkland to build Manchester office block

Commercial scheme to kickstart Mayfield Park development
2 days ago

Design team named for £1bn rebuild of Airedale Hospital

Construction set to start in 2027 to 2028 on Keighley hospital replacement
20 hours ago

Vistry secures 600-home Sunderland scheme

Work to start early next year on new Sheepfolds neighbourhood
2 days ago

Bilfinger bags National Gas compressor stations deal

Contract will create up to 100 jobs during construction phase
21 hours ago

Saint Gobain to build new stone wool insulation factory

Construction to start next year at Melton Mowbray site
2 days ago

United Living acquires civils firm Peter Duffy

Contractor gears-up for AMP8 investment round
2 days ago

Wates calls for PFI reboot to unlock schools and hospitals

Firm sets out fresh model for private cash in public projects
2 days ago

Strabag targets £1bn UK turnover by 2028

Austrian civils contractor ramps up UK push with HARP and HS2 pipeline
2 days ago

Training reform row splits scaffolding sector

Changes planned to the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme
2 days ago

BBV gears up for big HS2 viaduct slide over M6

First 119m viaduct section set to slide into place in June
2 days ago

Council terminates Spencer bridge repair contract

Delays have hit restoration of Grimsby’s historic Corporation Road Bridge
3 days ago

Liverpool unveils £850m highways framework line-up

Graham, Sisk and Wright land spots on city road improvement deal
2 days ago

Tender price rise forecasts downgraded as market stalls

Schemes stall as clients drag feet on project starts
2 days ago

Westminster gears up for £500m housing repairs deal

Council eyes multiple strategic alliances for major housing overhaul
3 days ago

Henry Boot sets October start on £1bn cyber hub next to GCHQ

160,000 sq ft IDEA office building starts 10-year build plan
3 days ago

Cementation Skanska names new operations director

Emma Haddow now heads up UK-wide ground engineering services
3 days ago

Forterra fires-up kilns as house building demand returns

Materials giant boosts production of bricks and concrete floor beams
3 days ago

Plans in for £100m Church Wharf regeneration in Bolton

Developer Watson submits plan for over 400 homes and 130-bed hotel
3 days ago

McAvoy on the hunt for new subcontractors

Meet the Buyer event in Manchester next month: Register now
3 days ago

Ex-Lendlease boss seals £24bn Crown Estate mega sites JV

Crown Estate/Lendlease alliance to build out at Euston, Silvertown and Thamesmead sites
4 days ago

Brookfield gets green light for latest City office scheme

Retrofit-first approach will retain 70% of the original structure at 1 Moor Lane
4 days ago

Knauf commits £170m to build Deeside insulation plant

Work to start next year at former Shotton steelworks site
4 days ago

Construction trade bodies vote to keep training levy

CITB gets green light to collect contractor's cash for another three years
4 days ago

McLaren to build 2,400-bed worker campus at Sizewell C

Worker camp to raise the bar on site accommodation standards
4 days ago

Soaring costs and work drought sunk historic scaffolding firm

Rodells had been in business since 1898
4 days ago

Clarion set to tender £79m Kirkstall Road Phase 2

Bidding to start for Dyecoats blocks 1 and 3 after Graham bagged phase 1
4 days ago

Contractor services