Issue details
Adoption of the Tall Buildings SPD
The Tall Buildings Supplementary Planning
Document (SPD) seeks to provide detailed guidance on the
implementation of policies in the Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2031 -
in particular, Local Plan Policy D.DH6 (Tall Buildings). Due to
their scale and size, tall buildings have had a profound impact on
the character of the borough as well as the legibility of the urban
fabric and the image of London as a whole. In the right locations,
tall buildings have the potential to make significant positive
contributions to the character and image of the borough, and also
serve as beacons of growth and regeneration. In recent years,
London has seen a surge of tall buildings being planned and built
across the capital, with many located in places that previously
were not characterised by taller buildings. Tower Hamlets has
become a borough with a particular concentration of tall building
proposals. The latest New
London Architecture annual report on tall buildings identifies 96
in the pipeline within the borough, the largest pipeline of all
London boroughs. The SPD will assist in managing tall building
proposals by setting out a framework for assessment, a spatial
analysis,
contextual information, and principles, objectives and application
requirements applicable to tall building proposals. The SPD
provides further detail on the potential for tall buildings and
their height within the five tall building zones designated in the
Local Plan and on sites promoted as allocations in the emerging
Leaside Area Action Plan (LAAP). This potential is informed by an
understanding of the history, heritage, spatial arrangement,
character and townscape of different parts of the borough and by
the vision and established policy framework set out within
the
adopted Local Plan. As an adopted document, the Tall Buildings SPD
to further enable clear and robust guidance to inform and be
implemented in development proposals. The SPD will add guidance to
the design, location and development of tall buildings, ensuring
such development has a positive impact on the Boroughs housing,
employment and commercial aspirations as well as addressing the
overall impact that such developments can have on local
residents.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Significant impact on communities living or working in two or more wards;
Decision status: Issue Closed in System
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 13/07/2022
Decision due: 14 Sep 22 by Cabinet
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding
Lead director: Corporate Director, Place
Department: Place
Contact: Jennifer Peters, (Divisional Director, Planning and Building Control, Place) Email: Jennifer.Peters@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Consultation process
Early engagement first stage workshops took
place between November and December 2020, followed by early
engagement second stage workshops in March 2021.
Following the development of the draft SPD, a public
consultation ran between 17th December 2021 and 4th March 2022.
This extended significantly beyond the minimum required four-week
consultation period. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no in-person
events could be held during the consultation period, but a series
of online workshops and Q&A sessions were held, an online
survey was set up on the consultation page, and the statutory
consultees were contacted. A copy of the SPD was made available on
the council’s Let’s Talk Tower Hamlets
website.
Consultees
A detailed list of consultees in Appendix 2
–
Consultation and Engagement Report.
Has an Equality Analysis been carried out and if so the result of this Assessment?: N/A
What supporting documents or other information will be available?: Appendix 1 – Evidence Base Report Appendix 2 – Heritage Baseline Report Appendix 3 – Integrated Impact Assessment and Appendices
Documents
- Adoption of the Tall Buildings SPD