Doon Street Tower : Architecture Information

News Update 17 Sep 2009 Radical news as London allows a very high tower in the centre of the city, close to the Houses of Parliament. With many other towers on hold or abandoned this is a major shift in the ongoing struggle between those in favour of skyscrapers in London and those against. Plans for the controversial 43-storey Doon Street tower on London's South Bank have been given the go ahead by the High Court and now London's skyline looks set to be ruined by the "monstrously tall" Doon Street towers. Westminster Council and English Heritage together opposed the building of these towers because of the impact they will have on London's historic skyline. Doon Street Tower - Westminster City Council Statement Cllr Robert Davis, Westminster City Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Built Environment, said: "We are very disappointed that the court has allowed these towers to go ahead, as they will be a blot on the landscape for generations to come. "We are not against the principle of tall buildings providing they are in the right place and do not damage important views, but the impact these buildings will have on some of London's most popular visitor attractions is nothing short of architectural vandalism. "The council along with English Heritage brought this case to court because Westminster has a rich architectural heritage, and we take our role as the custodians of this very seriously. "There are 11 000 listed buildings in Westminster and if we weren't here to protect the city and fight for it, then the construction of the wrong type of buildings could cause irreparable harm here and destroy its look for future generations. "The notion that skyscrapers are an essential expression of the city's economic progress is outdated and we believe now is the time to balance creative initiatives with the preservation of important views and historic buildings." Doon Street Tower information from Westminster City Council 170909 London Skyscraper News Update - Apr 2009 Westminster City Council High Court bid to stop Doon Street tower development - set for Jun 2009. WCC apparently confident of a victory. The Doon Street tower has been referenced as precedent in approval for One Blackfriars (Ian Simpson Architects) and 20 Blackfriars (Wilkinson Eyre), skyscrapers proposed for Southwark. Westminster City Council are apparently concerned to protect key views for example from St James Park out to the east over the River Thames. Comparative Heights of these South Bank skyscrapers: Number One Blackfriars Road : 51 storeys 20 Blackfriars : 43 + 23 storeys Doon Street tower : 43 storeys Architect : Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands Doon Street tower approved by UK Communities Secretary Hazel Blears News Update - 20 Aug 2008 Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands' proposed 43-storey Doon Street tower on the South Bank to be subject of planning inquiry, communities secretary Hazel Blears confirms English Heritage & CABE concerned, but supported by MP Kate Hoey 144m high Developer: Coin Street Community Builders The development of this residential tower will apparently help fund a public swimming pool and sports centre. Concerned bodies included English Heritage, Westminster City Council and the Royal Parks. Key issues included the affect on views from Somerset House on the north bank of the River Thames, and the omission of affordable housing, not to mention the height. In September 2007 Hazel Blears arranged for the application to be referred to her instead of being dealt with by the London Borough of Lambeth, because she considered that the proposal may conflict with national and regional policies.