Docklands skyscraper hits planning problems

Tall order: The Isle of Dogs masterplan imposes height restrictions

Architect Sheppard Robson’s design for a tower in London Docklands has run into problems with local planning policy.

The scheme, for property management company Rowan Asset Management, would be mixed-use with a large residential element.

It would be based around the Glengall Bridge on the west edge of the Isle of Dogs and would part of a plan to develop shops and parks along the waterfront on either side of the site.

However, the current Millennium Quarter masterplan, which was drawn up by EDAW in 2000, restricts the height of buildings.

The practice took a stand at the Thames Gateway Forum this week to showcase its designs and lobby senior officials at Tower Hamlets council and the Greater London Authority.

Alan Shingler, who is leading the project at Sheppard Robson, said the team, which includes Arup and planner DP9, was asking London mayor Ken Livingstone and Tower Hamlets council to change the rules.

He said: “We are currently conducting a masterplan analysis with Urban Strategies to see if we can influence a decision towards allowing tall buildings on the site. We would like to reduce the footprint of some of the more squat buildings 50% and build upwards instead. This would create more space on the ground for green spaces, cafes, boutiques and so on.”

Shingler and his team presented a version of the scheme to Livingstone earlier this year, who then wrote to the client to say that he would personally support it.

Since then a revised area action plan, which covers the whole of the Isle of Dogs, has confirmed the original height restrictions. The team is now proposing to sidestep this with an alternative area action plan.