Tall & Urban News

Allies and Morrison has cut back tower heights across its £4 billion ($5.2 billion) Canada Water masterplan after objections from Historic England.  
 
The heritage body said the cluster of skyscrapers in the 3,000-home development would have a “profound and far-reaching” impact on the city and would block views of landmark buildings. 
 
In response, developer British Land has amended its application by reducing the heights of buildings across the development, including cutting back the tallest tower by 24 meters, from 162 meters to 138 meters. 
 
A hybrid application for the 21-hectare site was submitted to Southwark Council in May 2018, with outline proposals for 40 new buildings, including three clusters of high-rise towers and a new town center “the size of Leicester Square.” 
 
However, the heritage group argued the seven tall buildings would harm views of some of the capital’s most famous landmarks. The impact on Tower Bridge would be “particularly harmful,” the body argued, as it would block part of its silhouette in views along London Bridge. 
 
As well as changes to the overall master plan, alterations have been made to some of the plots already submitted for detailed planning, including the developer’s office and leisure building overlooking Canada Water. 
 
The rear massing of the building, called Plot A2, has been altered after residents raised concerns about views from Hothfield Place. 
 
In March 2018, a development agreement was signed between the local authority and British Land, which will see the local authority take a flexible 20 percent stake in the whole development. 
 
The deal includes a commitment to deliver 35 percent affordable housing on the site, with 70 percent of those at social rents. It will also give the council an option to buy the site’s social-rented homes. 
 
Roger Madelin, Head of Canada Water Development at British Land, said: “The Canada Water Master Plan is a unique opportunity to deliver a genuinely mixed new urban center in a unique part of London.  
 
We are proud to be submitting an updated application for a project which is just as ambitious, but better responds to feedback that has been received from the local community and others.” 
 
For more on this story, go to Architects' Journal.