Europe’s tallest residential tower is set to be built in Vauxhall central London with a decision that is regarded as demonstrating the government's new hands off approach to planning and housing delivery.

Ministers have confirmed that they will not seek to call in the planning application for Green Property's £500 million One Nine Elms scheme in Vauxhall which includes a 200 meter tower.

The project becomes the tallest residential tower to gain planning consent without going to public inquiry after UK Secretary of State Eric Pickles confirmed that planning consent for the project, a collaboration between Green and their Development Managers CIT, would not be called in by his department.
 
Coming just four days after the Chancellor George Osborne signalled a major deregulation of planning laws as a means of boosting the British construction industry, the decision will enable the creation of up to 1,000 jobs during and after construction.

The scheme had the backing of London Mayor, Boris Johnson, who in a letter to Eric Pickles on 31 August urged him to; ‘Demonstrate the Government's commitment to economic growth and allow this decision to proceed at the local level’.

‘The decision of the Secretary of State not to call in the ONE project is a ringing endorsement of the hard work that the development team have devoted to delivering a scheme which is of the highest architectural standards and will bring real benefits to this area of London. We have worked closely with the London borough of Wandsworth and neighbouring Lambeth, the Greater London Authority and Mayor, to deliver a scheme which had the support of local community groups, and now the Secretary of State,’ said Michael Tapp, director of Green Property.

‘We have achieved a lot in 18 months which is a testament to the spirit of co-operation we have found with all involved. At a time of concern about the state of the property industry this decision sends a strong message that Government supports the development industry and believes in supporting growth and jobs,’ he added.

The twin tower development, designed by architects Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF), will be built on the site of the current 22 storey Market Towers building. When complete it will have a 50 storey, 200 meter City Tower and 43 storey, 160.5 meter River Tower which will have 487 high quality new homes, including 51 affordable, 11,000 square meters of modern office space, a 209 room four star hotel and 720 square meters of retail space.

The Market Towers buildings are now entirely vacant, enabling an early commencement of the redevelopment scheme. Green Property is likely to consider funding options imminently.

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE (What is this?)