Former Barbican renewal boss appointed City’s planning committee chair

The councillor who launched the £240m renewal of the Barbican Centre has been appointed chairman of the City of London Corporation’s planning and transportation committee.

Tom Sleigh has taken up the role with immediate effect and replaces Shravan Joshi, who has become the committee’s deputy chairman.

The planning and transportation committee is the City’s main body for approving planning applications in the Square Mile and has overseen a proliferation of large tower schemes including Stanhope’s new plans for 1 Undershaft.

Sleigh has been an independent councillor representing the ward of Bishopsgate since 2013, becoming an influential voice in the part of the City where many of the largest new schemes are located.

He previously chaired the City’s Barbican Centre Board, where he launched the programme to repair and refurbish the arts centre which most recently saw the announcement of plans to overhaul the grade II-listed site by Allies & Morrison and Asif Khan.

Sleigh is also chair of Goldsmiths University and chair of the South Bank Employers Group, which manages the Southbank Business Improvement District, where he champions place-making and cultural-led regeneration across central London. 

He also co-chairs the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board, and previously chaired the City’s Investment Committee where he oversaw a £4 billion real estate portfolio, including over 20% of the Square Mile’s freehold estate and many of its heritage sites.

A Cambridge university graduate and Fulbright scholar at Harvard University, he previously held roles as chief adviser to the chief operating officer of the BBC, head of communications and public affairs at Lloyds Banking Group and head of the public sector at Amazon UK.

He said he had been elected at a “pivotal moment” for the City as it starts to deliver its 2040 City Plan, which aims to diversify the City’s economy, reduce carbon emissions and provide 1.2 million sq m of new office space.

“I want the most beautiful and future-ready buildings in the country to rise in The City - architecture that lifts our spirits as much as our skyline,” Sleigh said.

“These must be designs that help shrink our carbon footprint, honour our heritage, and make The City irresistible to young people: a place to work, thrive and belong, drawn by its culture, sustainability and care for wellbeing.

“We have an opportunity to strengthen how we work with heritage groups and stakeholders—through conversations and a shared focus on quality and sustainability. I want to create space for constructive dialogue that helps us deliver the best outcomes for The City.”

Sleigh’s predecessor Joshi said: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together in my time as Chairman, in particular the millions of square footage of new office floorspace now under construction, as we continue to deliver the Destination City growth strategy for the Square Mile. 

“And in addition to the new office floorspace, we are seeing the diversification of the City, through new and cultural and educational attractions, food and beverage outlets, pocket parks and new sustainability and climate resilience infrastructure.”

Sleigh’s appointment follows the committee’s approval of plans to expand and refurbish the Montcalm Hotel at the historic Whitbread Brewery on Chiswell Street.

The scheme, designed by EPR Architects, will see the demolition of non-original additions to the site, which consists of seven grade II-listed buildings and one grade II*-listed building dating from 1700, and the construction of a two-storey roof extension.

The project team includes structural engineer Elliott Wood, planning consultant DP9, MEP consultant Introba and project manager Pillar Consulting.