01 SPRING 2003 Changing London AN HISTORIC CITY FOR A MODERN WORLD In October 2002, English Heritage launched Changing London, a radical new vision for managing change in London. Changing London sets out the cru­ cial contribution London’s special historic character makes to people’s quality of life and to the capital’s economy. This newsletter demonstrates what it means in practice. All those involved in London’s development must stop polarising old and new: both are vital for the daily lives of the 7.5 million people who live and work in this great city. Conservation is about managing, not preventing, change. Working together, planners, developers and conservationists can ensure that London’s past has a sustainable future. It is the only way to assure the capital’s continuing prosperity as a modern and prosperous world city. ‘The London Plan proposes CONTENTS reducing the number of 2/3 Mind The Gap designated strategic views The London Plan and diluting their protection’ Philip Davies 4/5 English Heritage’s London Region Director. Could our heritage become history? 6/7 Conservation builds communi­ ties 01 SPRING 2003 Mayor Ken Livingstone’s is for London to be ‘an example to the draft London Plan comes world’. It is just a question of how we do it. MIND THE GAP The Plan is driven byf orecasts of growth: up for public examination London is booming, so we have got to in March. house people. We have got to enable them to get around. We must make the THE LONDON most of opportunities to remedy past London stands at an important moment neglect in many areas of the capital. But in its history.This is a real opportunity to reading the full 400-page document, it shape London’s future. Who doesn’t is hard to avoid the feeling that this is a share Mr Livingstone’s enthusiasm for a business plan, not a development plan. London that’s ‘vibrant, successful, efficient There seems little awareness of what kind and socially inclusive’ as he says in his of place London is, how it has developed introduction? We all want a city that is and the problems this has produced.There PLAN ‘clean and green’. Our shared ambition are huge gaps that need to be addressed. LONDON’S HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT DESERVES MORE THAN INDIFFERENCE London is one of the world’s great TALL BUILDINGS historic cities. It contains 40,000 listed & STRATEGIC VIEWS buildings, 860 conservation areas, three Tall buildings and strategic views are two World Heritage Sites and over 600 of the most controversial issues. protected London squares. Its historic environment is vital to its economic If higher density housing is needed, health. It is not a brake on London’s this does not have to mean high-rise. prosperity, but a prime reason for it. Successive studies have demonstrated that tall buildings are not necessary for Conservation is one of London’s great the future of London as a global financial success stories, yet it is rarely celebrated centre.There is no evidence to suggest and too often taken for granted.There is that London will lose jobs to other cities if scant recognition of it in the Mayor’s tall buildings are not developed. We know draft London Plan. too that they are unpopular. Our various People value places, not just individual MORI polls have shown that most people buildings. There is overwhelming public (62%) do not want to see any more very support for conserving the whole historic tall buildings in London over the next few environment. Opinion polls tell us that years. Two thirds do not want any new 77% disagree we preserve too much. tower blocks for living accommodation, The ‘Urban Task Force’ predicts that 90% whilst only 10% want to live in them, less of our urban fabric will still be with us in than any other building type. 30 years time: enlightened stewardship is So why the overl y permissive approach to essential.The continuing adaptation and tall buildings in the Mayor’s Plan? Boroughs reuse of our existing buildings and spaces are actively required to promote them, is a key component of a sustainable future Under threat: the protected view but there is a lack of clarity about where towards St Paul’s Cathedral from – which is why the Mayor’s emerging they might or might not be appropriate King Henry’s Mound, Richmond. London Plan is so important. based on a thorough analysis of their The draft Plan makes a commendable environmental impact. commitment to fierce environmental We must not repeat the mistakes of protection for London’s waterways and the 1960s. Tall buildings in the wrong green spaces, but no similar pledge is places are inherently unsustainable.They made to London’s historic environment. can suck the life out of surrounding This is deeply worrying. In the best plans, communities. It would be a mistake to conservation permeates the entire policy pepperpot them all over London, or framework. Here it is given little weight. 2/3 ‘IF WE CHOOSE TO HAVE TALL BUILDINGS, THEN THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THEY COULD ENHANCE LONDON WITHOUT DAMAGING THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT’ Philip Davies, London Region Director. Canary Wharf: dramatic modern architecture has to allow them to squeeze out cherished If we choose to have tall buildings, countenanced when they are of the played a key role in the area’s renewal. historic views – like that of St Paul’s – then there are places where they could highest quality and form part of a that are central to London’s self-image. enhance London without damaging the coherent whole, informed by a clear vision The London Plan proposes reducing historic environment, or the qualities of the nature of the place being created. the number of designated strategic which made London special. Canary By failing to start from an understanding views and diluting their protection. Wharf, the Greenwich peninsula, the of the importance of what is there, the No consideration at all is given to Thames Gateway. Croydon and Stratford emerging London Plan policies for tall protecting views from within London’s all offer wonderful opportunities for buildings and strategic views are Royal Parks or World Heritage Sites. world-class designs. fundamentally flawed and, potentially, RIGHT BUILDING – THE LONDON PLAN – hugely damaging.There is still time to get RIGHT PLACE STILL TIME TO GET IT RIGHT them right, which is why all those who care about London’s historic environment English Heritage is not against tall The answer is not ad hoc, reactive, should make their views known at the buildings per se.We have supported piecemeal responses to unplanned, forthcoming examination in public into several including Lord Foster’s speculative proposals.That is not the way the draft Plan which is due to commence spectacular ‘gherkin’ for Swiss Ré. In to create cities people enjoy living in, on 3 March and last for about seven our joint guidance on tall buildings with or the way to maintain London’s unique weeks. the Commission for Architecture and competitive advantages.The Mayor’s Plan the Built Environment (CABE) we must provide clarity and certainty – made it very clear that “the overriding a rational, plan-led approach reinforced consideration is whether the location by national guidance. INFORMATION POINT is suitable for a tall building in terms We believe the starting point should be Changing London is available of its effect on the historic environment to carry out detailed character appraisals on the English Heritage at a city-wide, as well as local level. website at of London’s historic environment – to If not, then no building will be acceptable, www.english-heritage.org.uk identify important strategic and local however good the design”. views and other constraints – and only Hard copies can be obtained free of charge from English The recent report of the Parliamentary then to highlight areas that are either Heritage Customer Services – Urban Affairs Sub-Committee endorsed appropriate or inappropriate for tall call 0870 333 1181 many of our arguments, and the buildings. In appropriate locations more The draft London Plan and government has now invited English detailed urban design frameworks related documents can be Heritage and CABE to expand and can then be prepared.This would downloaded from strengthen their joint guidance to ensure that new tall buildings are only www.london.gov.uk reflect the Committee’s concerns. Revised EH-CABE ‘Guidance on Tall Buildings’ will be published in early March. 01 SPRING 2003 SLUMBERING GIANT Dominating its surroundings since the early 1930s, Battersea Power Station patiently awaits its rebirth. It is now five years since English Heritage signed up to an ambitious redevelopment of LONDON… the site to include the grade II listed power station, two hotels, offices, residential units and a showcase for GREEN CITY… the creative industries. English Heritage is currently discussing CITY OF THE PAST… radical proposals, by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, to upgrade nearby Battersea Park railway station (listed grade II) and CITY OF THE FUTURE… bring a high level ‘skywalk’ directly into Battersea Power Station. the power station site. A proposed new SNAPSHOTS OF WORK THROUGHOUT footbridge over the River Thames into THE CAPITAL ARE A REMINDER THAT ENGLISH Pimlico is also being discussed. HERITAGE’S PORTFOLIO EMBRACES ALL ASPECTS Phase 1 of the development is expected OF LONDON’S HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT. start on site in 2004,with completion WASH & BRUSH-UP – by 2008. ROMAN STYLE In an entirely unexpected discovery, BLACKHEATH probably the largest recorded Roman THE NEXT 50 YEARS Baths in London have been unearthed in Shadwell,Tower Hamlets.