A former archbishop has warned that building a 56-storey skyscraper opposite a medieval church in the City of London risks “disfiguring” the landmark structure.
Plans to build the huge office tower at 99 Bishopsgate were put forward by mega-developer Brookfield last August and include the partial demolition of an existing building at the site for the construction of one of the Square Mile’s tallest buildings yet.
Brookfield says the project has been designed to contribute to the City of London’s development as an “important cluster of economic activity” on the world stage, but residents and local groups have warned of its potential impact on an 800-year-old church that sits just 20 metres away.
Grade-I listed building St Ethelburga’s dates back to 1250 and is one of eight churches in the city to have survived the Great Fire of 1666 as well as the Blitz and a major IRA bombing in 1993 which destroyed nearly three quarters of the structure and left it in need of repairs totalling £350.
Despite facing demolition in the wake of the bombing, a community campaign ultimately saw it restored and reopened as a Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in 2002.
It could now be facing fresh threat in the guise of the huge new tower block, however, with former archbishop and patron of St Ethelburga’s Lord Rowan Williams describing it as a “wholly undesirable” development which would cause the centre’s “crucial reflection, conferences and meditation work [to] suffer severely”.
Co-directors Clare Martin and Tarot Couzyn have also warned that the 800-year-old church’s proximity to a brand-new skyscraper could have “devastating consequences”.
They said the building’s primary function was to provide a “quiet and peaceful … oasis of calm” in the city, with up to six years of construction work nearby “resulting in the loss of most of our funding”.
The transformation of the area into a long-term building site would “make the continuation of our charitable activities, training, public talks, consultancy, faith and cultural events impossible”, they suggested.
A letter of objection to the plans concluded: “In this scenario, St Ethelburga’s would likely cease to exist and the City of London will therefore lose a priceless space of historic and cultural value which is a cornerstone of the character of the local area.”
The Bishopsgate area, at the centre of London’s financial district, is already home to some of the biggest skyscrapers in the UK, including the ‘Gherkin’ at 30 St Mary’s Axe and the 563-foot-tall office space at 100 Bishopsgate which was also built by Brookfield and spans 37 storeys.
Plans for 99 Bishopsgate would see a multi-use space constructed just next door, including a market hall space and six-storey exhibition and performance area.
Locals and beneficiaries of the centre have also hit out at the proposals, with Elsie Roderiques suggesting that it poses an “existential threat” to the “important” centre’s future.
Ms Roderiques, who says she had booked an event at St Ethelburga’s in November and enjoyed its “peaceful and quiet” spaces, said noise disturbance would render it “unworkable”, “destroying the charity’s means to support itself and pay the staff, building and running costs”.
Property valuation advisors DWD also cited the development’s impact on St Ethelburga’s, as well as two other listed churches St Botolph and All Hallows, among the reasons for concluding that its harm would outweigh its benefits.
And a surveyor acting on behalf of St Paul’s Cathedral also said the skyscraper risked negatively impacting views of one of London’s most famous landmarks.
Former Tory MP Sir Tony Baldry, who is the parish clerk of St Ethelberga’s joined the chorus urging the council against green-lighting the plans, stressing the centre’s “acutely needed” function as a base of “peace building, conflict resolution and interfaith dialogue”.
“The City of London has no shortage of skyscrapers but within the townscape there are a finite number of historic buildings such as St Ethelberga’s that help define the city’s history and continuity,” he said.
A spokesperson for 99 Bishopsgate said: “The proposals for 99 Bishopsgate will deliver a new landmark building in the City of London with significant public and cultural benefits. Our proposals include provision of a new public realm including pedestrian walkways, a new City Market, and a standalone cultural building.
“As part of planning for the proposed development, we have had regular and ongoing conversations with key stakeholders, consultees, and the St Ethelburga’s Centre. We are actively working to address the concerns raised by St Ethelburga’s and are committed to continued dialogue with them.”