City of London to vote on acquiring an interest in the Lipton Rogers tower to push forward its development
Lipton Rogers has said its development 22 Bishopsgate is under threat from right to light challenges by neighbouring property occupiers.
The developer has applied to the City of London Corporation for section 227 powers - which if approved could see the City of London Corporation acquire part of the scheme - in order to help fight off objectors and push on with its development.
In its application, Lipton Rogers said its development programme for the Square Mile’s tallest tower was at risk due to a “large” number of right to light objections from neighbours and its inability to settle those claims.
The firm added it needs to place substantial pre-construction orders for materials and procure the main build contract to hit its 2018 completion date and meet projected demand.
The City’s planning and transportation committee will decide on the matter tomorrow after the application was recommended for approval by planning officers.
Planning permission for the defunct Pinnacle’s 62-storey replacement was granted in November last year.
Building revealed in November that the PLP-designed tower could have a construction value of £500m and William Hare and Careys were being lined up for the £40-50m steel and £30-40m concrete packages respectively.
Keltbray has already been on site demolishing the old ‘stump’ of concrete core abandoned by the former Pinnacle scheme and modifying the piling works.
Brookfield Mulitplex signed a pre-construction agreement with Lipton Rogers last February and was being lined up for the main construction job.
The project team also includes WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff as engineer, Alinea as the cost consultant, Aecom as the employer’s agent and environmental consultant, Wilson James is providing logistics and DP9 is the planning consultant
Land Securities is also seeking approval tomorrow for similar powers to enable developement at its 21 Moorfields site above Moorgate Underground Station.
The office and retail project which also won planning approval in November is similarly at risk over an inability to settle “a significant number” of right of light claims, according to the application.
It has also been reccommended that the City authorise the purchase of an interest in the site under section 227 in order to engage powers under S237 to continue with the development.
Land Securities development director Kiran Pawar said: “21 Moorfields is a strategically important site in the City of London, positioned above the new Crossrail station and the regeneration of this site is clearly in the public interest. Requesting the City of London to use their powers under Section 237 will help to prevent unnecessary delays to the delivery of the scheme.”
Lipton Rogers have been contacted for comment.
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