City of London gives Fosters' Tulip the green light

The City of London’s planning committee has given Foster + Partners’ controversial Tulip tourist attraction the green light.

At a three-hour planning hearing this morning, the scheme was OK’d despite a string of objections from heritage groups including Historic England and Tower of London manager Historic Royal Palaces. London mayor Sadiq Khan has also objected.

Despite the weight of opposition, the City’s planning committee gave it the all clear by 18 votes to seven.

But it seems certain the scheme will face further planning hurdles in the coming months.

Last month, the chair of the City’s planning and transportation committee Chris Hayward, who voted for the scheme at today’s hearing, told Building he expected that any decision to approve the Tulip would be called in for further scrutiny at a public inquiry presided over by a planning inspector.

At the meeting, Hayward said the Tulip was “a once in a lifetime opportunity” while the City’s chief planning officer, Annie Hampson, said she believed the scheme provided a “striking building marking the City”.

But one committee member Graeme Harrower “commended it” to Las Vegas but not London.

Norman Foster did not appear before the committee meeting but Grant Brooker, the practice’s senior executive partner, read a statement on his behalf.

In it, Foster accepted that the Tulip was “inevitably controversial” but argued that the tower also had the potential to be a global symbol for the capital.

Planners at the City had last week recommended the corporation’s decision makers approve the 305m scheme, arguing that its advantages outweigh its impacts and that its “bold and striking” design is iconic.

Created for the billionaire Gherkin owner Jacob J Safra, the scheme will be built at a site next door to the Fosters-designed scheme which kick-started the slew of tall towers in the so-called Eastern cluster when it was completed by Skanska 15 years ago.

Skanska is working as a construction adviser on the Tulip while Alinea is QS on the job.

Hayward said the Tulip was “a once in a lifetime opportunity” while the City’s chief planning officer, Annie Hampson, said she believed the Tulip provided a “striking building marking the City”.

But one committee member Graeme Harrower “commended it” to Las Vegas but not London.

Norman Foster did not appear before the committee meeting but Grant Brooker, the practice’s senior executive partner, read a statement on his behalf.

In it, Foster accepted that the Tulip was “inevitably controversial” but argued that the tower also had the potential to be a global symbol for the capital.