Planning row erupts in London over 'appalling' plans for new skyscraper

A planning row has erupted in London over plans for a new skyscraper, which has been branded "appalling".

The City of London has approved the contentious 1 Silk Street office development following a turbulent planning meeting which descended into chaos on Thursday.

Committee members voted 16-11 in favour of the scheme, which had attracted close to 1,500 formal objections and drawn criticism from sculptor Sir Antony Gormley.

The lengthy session turned hostile when someone in the viewing gallery branded a committee member a "f*****g pig."

Security personnel were summoned after the vote as opponents shouted "you are a disgrace" and "appalling" at officials.

Throughout earlier presentations, audience members had been visibly dismissive, shaking their heads and laughing, prompting the committee to caution that proceedings were "not a bar brawl".

Lipton Rogers, the developer behind 22 Bishopsgate, the Square Mile's tallest tower, plans to demolish the current Linklaters headquarters and construct two office blocks beside Cromwell Tower.

The original proposal featured twin 21-storey towers as part of a 91,100-square-metre scheme.

Following objections, the firm submitted amended blueprints in February 2026, reducing the western building by three floors whilst keeping the eastern tower at 20 storeys above ground level.

This revision trimmed overall office space by five per cent, with developers claiming the changes would lessen the impact on natural light reaching neighbouring properties.

The project would replace the law firm's existing base with what Lipton Rogers described as "much-needed" commercial accommodation.

Tom Sleigh, chairman of the planning and transportation committee, acknowledged that "emotions were running high" but stood by the outcome.

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He said: "The development on Silk Street is crucially important for the City. We have an obligation to grow the City, and to deliver that we have to have new, good quality offices."

Sir Stuart Lipton, who co-founded the development firm, insisted his team had "examined every detail" of potential impacts on neighbours, adding: "My colleagues and I have built 42 buildings in this wonderful city. We understand it."

The proposals united opposition from prominent cultural figures, with Mr Gormley calling for reconsideration and architect Kenneth Frampton dismissing the design as having a "gratuitous jukebox aesthetic".

Residents argued the towers would cast shadows over Cromwell Tower and plunge nearby homes into darkness.

Robin Pembrooke, presenting the objectors' case, warned: "If you approve these plans it will be the biggest detrimental harm on residential amenity and daylight ever approved by the City."

Fellow resident Laurence Quinn urged officials to "show us that you're willing to reject or change these proposals in a way that materially addresses the harm imbalance presented today".

Barbican Quarter Action, the campaign group, branded the scheme "unnecessarily harmful," citing concerns over heritage damage, loss of privacy and poor design quality.

As part of the approved package, Lipton Rogers committed to delivering a public plaza at the Barbican's Silk Street entrance, cultural facilities for the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, a community hall and a new pedestrian link connecting the estate to Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations.

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