- A controversial skyscraper that will be Europe's tallest
building has won planning approval from the Government despite concerns
that it will destroy views across central London.
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- John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, has granted
permission for the 1,016ft London Bridge Tower, casting aside claims that
it will ruin the capital's skyline and overshadow St Paul's Cathedral.
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- The 66-storey office and apartment block - more than
200ft taller than Canary Wharf to the east in London's Docklands - will
become not only the highest but also the most striking building in the
capital.
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- Created by Renzo Piano, the Italian architect who co-designed
the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the tower, nicknamed "the shard of glass",
will resemble a finely tapering cathedral spire.
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- Southwark Council has already given planning approval
and Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has actively supported skyscrapers.
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- But English Heritage is bitterly opposed to the 900,000
sq ft tower, to be built above London Bridge station, saying that it would
destroy historic views.
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- Yesterday a spokesman for English Heritage said that
it was "disappointed" at the decision as it felt it was an "inappropriate
addition to the skyline of the area".
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- Its developer, Irvine Sellar, of Sellar Property Group,
said he and Mr Piano were "overjoyed" at the decision, which
meant the tower could be completed by 2009.
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- Mr Sellar, whose property company Ford Sellar Morris
collapsed in 1991 with debts of £132m, denied speculation that the
plans would be watered down. He said: "We have entered into a legally
binding agreement with Mr Piano. There is no question of dumbing down.
This is his first project in London and no doubt his most important project
to date."
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- Paul Evans, Director of Regeneration at Southwark Council,
praised the project. "The height, form and excellent design quality
of the London Bridge Tower make it a world-class building that will attract
visitors from around the world and bring investment and jobs to Southwark,"
he said.
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- The tower will offer 850,000 sq ft of office space, with
apartments, a hotel, restaurants and two viewing platforms. Construction
costs are likely to be about £300m, with the end value of the project
placed at between £750m and £1 billion.
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- Sellar Property Group is working with two financial partners
to build the tower, each taking a one-third stake in the project. They
are CLS Holdings, a quoted property company valued at £239m, and
an offshore family trust.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2003.
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