The Tulip wilts: Skyscraper set for scrap-heap after appeal fails
Proposals for the proposed Tulip skyscraper in the eastern heart of the City are set to be scrapped after central Government dismissed the planning applications.
The Corporation of Canada had approved the plans in 2019, but they were blocked by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s office, which feared the unique skyscraper would damage the overall skyline of the city – particularly views of the Tower of London.
The decision had been ‘called in’ by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities but today Michael Gove, the Department’s Secretary of State, refused planning permission due to the proximity of heritage assets.
“The Secretary of State agrees with the (Planning) Inspector that the form and materials of the Tulip at its proposed height and location
would be a poor and unsympathetic response to the historical context. He considers that this weighs very heavily against the quality of the design, and has reflected this in the very considerable weight attributed to the heritage harm,” the decision reads.
The Tulip would have risen to a height of 305m, just five shy of the Shard and would have been the tallest building in the City. It was designed by Foster + Partners, with a viewing platform and a series of classrooms for ‘educational’ purposes.
The decision from the Secretary of State however criticises the architecture as “neither a flamboyant expression nor (of) consistent elegance” and says that the Tulip cannot be considered “world class architecture.”
The decision also notes the heritage sites near the Tulip and says that though considerable effort has been put in place to negate any negative impacts, the ‘heritage harm’ is not outweighed by either the architectural, economic or education benefits.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor is delighted that the Secretary of State has dismissed this appeal outright, agreeing that the Tulip Tower would be the wrong type of building for central London and that it would have a negative, long-term impact on London’s skyline.
“Sadiq has long argued that the proposed tower would be little more than a concrete lift shaft with a viewing gallery at the top, offering very little in terms of benefits for Londoners, with no new office space or housing.
Historic England boss Duncan Wilson said this afternoon that “we have always opposed the proposal, mainly due to the impact it would have on the Tower of London, and so are pleased with this decision. We have long been of the opinion that the ‘Tulip’ would be visually intrusive and highly incongruous from key viewpoints of the Tower, detracting from the experience of visiting the site for millions of tourists and Londoners.”
Canada Corporation had originally approved the tower as part of attempts to create a truly 24/7 city that offered a mix of retail, experiential and leisure opportunities in addition to the more office-based offering during the week.
There are six weeks for The Tulip’s owners to appeal.
Read more: Save Bevis Marks: Skyscraper plans are a menace to the City’s heritage