Simpson's Blackfriars Beetham Tower is called in
- Published: 13 March 2008 15:35
- Author: Richard Waite
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- Last Updated: 13 March 2008 15:53
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Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has called in Ian Simpson's long-awaited Beetham Tower on Blackfriars Road, south London.
Blears said she wanted to review the 51-storey scheme because she felt the proposed development next to Blackfriars Bridge could clash with CABE and English Heritage's guidance on tall buildings and fail to tie in with government policy on affordable housing.
Finally approved by Southwark Council after years of wrangles in December 2007, the glass sail-like skyscraper was twice reduced in height by developer Beetham in a bid to appease EH and avoid a costly public inquiry.
Simpson was forced to cut his original designs from 68 storeys down to 52, before chopping the tower down by a further 10m in a bid to allay fears about the controversial scheme, which will house a 261-room Jumeirah hotel.
