Developers have secured approval for new skyscraper construction in the City of London, despite concerns from heritage officials about the potential impact on views of the Tower of London. The Planning Inspectorate, which oversees planning decisions, sided with the City of London Corporation’s proposed building contours over those advocated by Historic England, the government’s heritage advisory body.

The dispute centered on the eastern boundary of the financial district, where new development is planned near the Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historic England argued that new buildings should be designed to lean away from the Tower to preserve its skyline and maintain an open gap of clear sky, thus protecting the landmark’s architectural prominence and its visual separation from the surrounding City. The Tower’s status as a World Heritage Site partly depends on its skyline as seen from the River Thames and its distinct position relative to the City.

However, the City of London Corporation proposed a design with a clearly defined vertical edge, emphasizing the need to maximize office space amid an ongoing shortage of commercial property. The Corporation warned that adopting Historic England’s plan would reduce available office space by up to one million square feet, potentially exacerbating supply constraints in the financial district.

Following two hearings in recent weeks—supplementing sessions held last year—the Planning Inspectorate concluded that both proposals would maintain a visual separation between the Tower and the City’s cluster of tall buildings. Nevertheless, it found that Historic England’s contours would significantly limit development capacity and raised concerns regarding economic growth and office supply. In contrast, the City of London’s plan was deemed to offer a more appropriate balance between protecting the Tower’s heritage and meeting the City’s commercial needs.

Tom Sleigh, chair of the City of London’s planning and transportation committee, emphasized the historical coexistence of the Tower and the City, noting that the Tower, begun by William the Conqueror in 1078, has long stood alongside the evolving cityscape. “This was never a choice between the Tower of London and jobs,” he said.

Historic England acknowledged the decision but expressed a continued commitment to work with stakeholders to balance economic development with conservation of London’s historic environment. The Planning Inspectorate declined to provide additional comment on the ruling.