Protect Bevis Marks

STOP THE HISTORIC CITY OF LONDON FROM BEING OVER-RUN WITH TALL TOWERS

A CALL FOR WIDESPREAD OBJECTION

The City of London Corporation is consulting over a new 15-year plan which seriously weakens heritage protections and opens the door to yet more tall office towers.

Historic England and other heritage organisations have expressed great concern regarding this draft City Plan 2040.

Buildings under threat include the historic Grade 1 Listed Bevis Marks Synagogue. 

Everyone concerned about insufficient attention being paid to the City’s heritage and cultural traditions should object about the fact that proposed policy towards Conservation Areas is weak, and, in particular, the current presumption against tall buildings in Conservation Areas is dropped. 

Have your say by emailing: planningpolicyconsultations@cityoflondon.gov.uk to say the Plan is “unsound” before 11pm on Monday 17 June 2024.

The changing skyline of London's Square Mile
The changing skyline of London's Square Mile. (Image credit: Bluebeam.com)
25 Finsbury Circus sits in front of Tower 42, once the tallest building in the UK, now overshadowed by 22 Bishopsgate. (Image credit: Photo by Hamish Champ.)
25 Finsbury Circus sits in front of Tower 42, once the tallest building in the UK, now overshadowed by 22 Bishopsgate. (Image credit: Photo by Hamish Champ.)
Proposed towers of London's Square Mile. (Image source: City of London Corporation. Reference: Telegraph.co.uk – ‘Desire for non-stop construction’ threatens historic London, 13 Nov 2023.)
The Swiss Re building known as The Gherkin towering above St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London. (Credit: Ed Rhodes. Discover Britain.)
The Swiss Re building known as The Gherkin towering above St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London. (Credit: Ed Rhodes. Discover Britain.)
London's towering skyline
London's towering skyline. (Image credit: Trevor Sherwin)

OUR OBJECTIONS RELATING TO BEVIS MARKS SYNAGOGUE

Anyone concerned about Bevis Marks Synagogue specifically should also object that:

The planners propose to protect the "immediate setting" of the Synagogue, but this is wholly inadequate given the "immediate setting" does not cover the 31 Bury St proposed development site (just 25m away), and effectively pays no regard to the important sky view above the Synagogue.

The Synagogue is denied the level of protection afforded to The Monument, where views out and in are given protection.

The Synagogue is included within the Tall Buildings Area, without proper protection.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you are unhappy with any aspect of the City of London Corporation’s draft plan and the heritage protections it undoes to introduce yet more over-shadowing tall office towers, the key thing is to object that the draft plan is “unsound” by 11pm on 17 June.

You can do this in several ways, explained on the Corporation’s web page, but the easiest way is simply to email: planningpolicyconsultations@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

HELP US PROTECT BEVIS MARKS SYNAGOGUE & THE SKYLINE OF LONDON’S OTHER HISTORIC BUILDINGS BY EMAILING YOUR OBJECTIONS TO THE CITY PLANNERS TODAY.

HOW THE CITY’S SKYLINE COULD CHANGE & THREATEN HISTORIC LONDON WITHOUT OUR OBJECTIONS!

he London skyline in 2006 - Source Getty Images iStock Photo
The London skyline in 2006. (Image source: Getty Images/ iStock Photo)
An artist's impression of 2026 with various added skyscrapers - Source GMJ and City of London Corp
An artist's impression of 2026 with various added skyscrapers. (Image source: GMJ and City of London Corporation)
Just some of the towers planned by 2026 (not even including the 43 storey tower at 31 Bury Street that threatens to overwhelm Bevis Marks Synagogue)
Just some of the towers planned by 2026 (not even including the 43 storey tower at 31 Bury Street that threatens to overwhelm Bevis Marks Synagogue). (Image source: dailymail.co.uk/news, 4 Jan 2019)

Have your say!

Email planningpolicyconsultations@cityoflondon.gov.uk explicitly saying that City Plan 2040 is “unsound” before 11pm on Monday 17 June 2024.