Despite promises during the Mayoral election that he wouldn’t interfere with the wishes of local councils and residents, Boris has this week invoked a new power that allows the mayor to overrule local planning decisions.
Tower Hamlets had refused to extend the planning permission for the sixty three storey Columbus Tower in Canary Wharf on the grounds that it would affect light to a number of homes and would have a detrimental effect on conservation areas.
However, Bozza is expected to use a new power to overrule the council as the tower is of “strategic importance” to the city. The project is expected to create “thousands” of jobs as well as partly funding the Mayor’s ambitions Crossrail project.
BoJo said “This is a decision I have not taken lightly, however the Columbus Tower proposal clearly meets the test of a planning application of major significance to the whole of London. Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs form a key part of my economic development strategy and I have also made it clear that I consider Canary Wharf to be suitable for tall buildings.”
The tower would be ten metres taller than One Canada Square – London’s existing tallest building – and would house a hotel and flats.