Tower Hamlets Refuses Columbus Tower Permission

Tower Hamlets planning committee has made one of its most surprising decisions in recent years when it last night rejected a renewed planning application to continue planning approval of the Columbus Tower next to Canary Wharf.

With only a few very minor changes to the scheme designed by DMWR Architects, the proposal is almost identical to the one that Tower Hamlets had approved previously in 2005. This time around however the planning committee voted 6-2 against greenlighting the 237m tall skyscraper citing the conservation area it would stand in and condemning it as "unsuitable".

There were also concerns about the right to light of nearby properties, concerns that have not been acted on when it comes to other nearby skyscrapers such as North Quay that will actually cast larger shadows thanks to their greater bulk. Other tall buildings already exist around the dock that Columbus Tower bounds including 1 West India Quay that stands at the other end of the conservation area, and HSBC's World Headquarters.

Many will also be puzzled at the council's idea of a conservation area and the unsuitability of an already approved skyscraper right next to what is the largest skyscraper cluster in the whole of London.

One friend for the project might come in the form of London's mayor Boris Johnson who is always eager to money to help Crossrail without burdening the public and would see the potential of perhaps £5 million the site could get generate for the planned transport scheme as too good to turn down.

With the Mayor having gained substantial new powers in April 2008, and the scheme less than contentious being in Canary Wharf rather than Westminster or suburbia, his ability to intervene presents a real opportunity for the project to get approved and raise public funds.

The Commercial Estates Group who are developing the scheme will now be stuck as to where to take the project next. They purchased Hertsmere House from SKMC paying £25 million for the site, design and planning approval in late 2005 in what looked like a speculative purchase intended to sit on the increasing value of the scheme.

Much of this £25 million will be the extra value added to the site by having an approved skyscraper on it - something that the developer now faces losing unless they appeal against the decision.