City of London to acquire interest at 20 Fenchurch Street

Walkie Talkie gets backing from Corporation’s Planning & Transportation Committee

Article posted: 14 May 2011

The City of London Corporation's Planning and Transportation Committee has approved a recommendation allowing the City to consider acquiring an interest in land under section 227 of the Town and Country Planning Act in order to engage section 237 powers so that developments can proceed where they could otherwise be prevented by injunctions prohibiting infringements of rights of light.

The Committee went on to use these powers to allow the City of London to acquire an interest in the development at 20 Fenchurch Street.

A City of London spokesperson commented: "The City of London has a long standing planning policy of promoting development in order to maintain the supply of - and to match the demand for - high quality office space in the Square Mile. The Heaney case has cast doubt upon the basis to which rights of lights issues are to be resolved and represents a significant obstacle to future developments both in the city and indeed throughout the country.

"The Planning and Transportation Committee’s decision to agree to the use of powers under S237 ensures that developments deemed to promote economic development and other public benefits in the City - of which 20 Fenchurch Street is certainly one - can proceed without running the risk of injunctions being applied with regards to rights of light."

The decision is subject to the concurrence of the Policy and Resources Committee which is due to meet on Thursday 12 May and the Court of Common Council which is due to meet on Thursday 9 June.

Construction began on the Rafael Viñoly designed tower back in January. Nicknamed the “Walkie Talkie” building, when complete, the 37 storey scheme will provide 690,000 sq ft world class office space in the City of London, with each floor offering 360° of unrivalled views, topped by a public sky garden.

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Posted by Jules