Jeremy Hunt rejects Broadgate listing

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has rejected calls to list Broadgate Circus, paving the way for a £340m British Land office development in the City.

The future of the Make-designed headquarters for banking giants UBS had been thrown into doubt after English Heritage recommended the buildings in its way be listed.

But this morning in a letter sent to English Heritage, the culture secretary said: “Broadgate is not of sufficient architectural or historic interest to merit listing protection.”

English Heritge had recommended the 1980s-built office complex originally developed by Sir Stuart Lipton should be Grade II* listed.

Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make Architects, said: “I’m very pleased - it’s a very good day for the City of London. This is about ensuring business can continue there.”

“But that doesn’t mean to say there aren’t elements of [Broadgate Circus] that are more sensitive. My view was that 4 and 6 were not worth retaining but there’s some high quality space and those spaces will be retained.”

English Heritage said in a statement that it was “disappointed” with the secretary of state’s verdict and added the buildings could have been adapted as a more sustainable option.

In response Chris Grigg, British Land chief executive, said: “I am delighted by today’s decision as it allows Broadgate to continue to evolve as a sustainable and flexible office location that will meet the future needs of occupiers whilst maintaining the sense of space and place for which it is rightly renowned around the globe. With the decision made today by Jeremy Hunt, the Government has also sent out a message loud and clear to the world that the UK is ’open for business.”

See right for Jeremy Hunt’s full letter to English Heritage and English Heritage’s response.