Tulip (tower)

The Tulip was a proposed 305-metre observation tower to be constructed on 20 Bury Street in the City of London, adjacent to 30 St Mary Axe, informally known as the Gherkin.[1]

For other uses, see Tulip (disambiguation).
Tulip
General information
StatusRejected
TypeObservation Tower
LocationLondon, EC3
CountryUnited Kingdom
ClientJ Safra Group
Height305m (1,000 ft)
Technical details
Floor count8
Design and construction
Architecture firmFoster + Partners

History

The building's architects, Foster + Partners, said it was intended to complement the Gherkin, owned and designed by the same team.[2] The tower was to be a visitor attraction without any office space.[1] It would have been London's second tallest building. Work could have started as early as 2020 with a scheduled completion date of 2025.[3]

A planning application was submitted to the City of London planning authority on 19 November 2018.[4] It faced opposition from Historic England and Historic Places, who argued that the tower would impact views of the Tower of London. The Greater London Authority expressed "significant concerns" about the design.[3] A survey completed by 1,011 Londoners in December 2018, suggested that two-thirds believed the tower would be "an attractive addition to the London skyline".[3]

In November 2018, London City Airport officials insisted that National Air Traffic Services (NATS) be consulted regarding the impact rotating gondolas would have on radar systems;[5][6] NATS responded that "it was satisfied that no impact from either the building or the moving gondolas is anticipated."[7]

The city's planning and transportation committee approved the scheme on 2 April 2019.[8]

Opposition

The tower has been opposed by Historic England, Historic Royal Palaces, and the Greater London Authority.[9] Following the approval, chief executive of Historic England Duncan Wilson said he was disappointed with the decision and that the construction "would damage the very thing its developers claim they will deliver – tourism and views of London’s extraordinary heritage".[10] Duncan also claimed that the Tower of London has "already been damaged by the Walkie Talkie and it would be a great shame if that mistake was repeated", referring to the approval granted for the Tulip's construction.[11]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also shown objection with the construction, saying that the tower breaches the London Plan by restricting free entry to the publicly-accessible viewing platform. He also said that the protected views of the Tower of London would be harmed.[12][13]

Rejection

The tower was refused planning permission by Sadiq Khan on 15 July 2019.[14] Historic England welcomed the rejection, saying in a statement "We have long been of the opinion that this is the wrong building in the wrong place. We advised that its height and design – essentially a tall lift shaft with a bulge on top – would cause permanent and irreversible damage to the setting of the Tower of London, and in turn, the image and identity of the capital."[15]

References
  1. "'Tulip' tower planned for London's skyline". BBC News. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  2. "Meet the Tulip: London's newest, and strangest skyscraper". The National. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  3. Waite, Richard. "Foster + Partners' Tulip tower set for City of London approval". Architects Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. Wainwright, Oliver (19 November 2018). "Like Norman Foster's Gherkin? Meet his cocktail cornichon". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  5. "'The Tulip': New London skyscraper gets planning permission". The Independent. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  6. "COMMENTS- LONDON CITY AIRPORT" (PDF). City of London Planning Application Documents. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  7. "The Tulip awaits go-ahead after nod from City planners". CityAM. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  8. Dunton, Jim. "Fosters' Tulip tower set to get planning green light". Building. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  9. "Tulip tower: Planners approve new London skyscraper". BBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  10. "Tulip skyscraper given approval to bloom over London". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  11. "'The Tulip' tower: 1,000ft London skyscraper with spherical glass lifts whirling around a convex tip gets green light from planners". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  12. "City of London approves plan for 'Tulip' viewing tower". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  13. "'The Tulip': New London skyscraper gets planning permission". The Independent. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  14. "Mayor rejects 'unwelcoming, poorly designed' Tulip". The Architect's Journal. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  15. "The Tulip Tower Permission Rejected". Historic England. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
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