Rogers tower to fall victim to viewing corridor

The redevelopment of 4 Broadgate, a British Land-owned building that is a key part of an award-winning eighties development next to Liverpool Street station, was to have been a high-rise structure designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The firm has already carried out preliminary design work.

British Land announced in 2007 that the building would have “substantially increased floor areas” of 390,000ft2. A planning application was to have been made by the end of 2008, but never emerged.

Now, sources close to the scheme have said that expanded viewing corridors proposed by the mayor of London earlier this month would scupper high-rise plans on the 4 Broadgate site.

It is understood that the broadening of a viewing corridor from Richmond, Surrey, to St Paul’s cathedral means development in the Broadgate area – visible from the Richmond viewing spot – is now restricted.

The new guidelines state: “It is essential that development in the background of the view is subordinate to the cathedral.”

British Land said it would decide to redevelop or refurbish the existing 4 Broadgate building when market conditions improved. It said: “Obviously, we would have to adhere to whatever view framework is in place.”

The scrapping of the scheme caps a rotten month for Rogers after his designs for Chelsea Barracks were withdrawn by developer Qatari Diar.

The architect is also working with British Land on a 47-storey tower at 122 Leadenhall, known as the “Cheesegrater”, which is on hold. The tower already has planning permission, so will not be affected by these changes.