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Mayor of London approves controversial Blossom Street development

Boris Johnson has given the green light for a controversial £300m East London redevelopment plan to go ahead following a three-hour planning hearing.

The 32,000 sq m Blossom Street redevelopment will see the construction of seven buildings, consisting primarily of office space but will also include 13 retail units and 40 apartments. The project is a joint effort between London-based property developer British Land and architects Alfred Hall Monaghan Morris Architects (AHMM).

The proposals had previously met strong opposition from residents who doubted whether the development was in keeping with the historic heritage of the Norton Folgate neighbourhood. As a result, local doubts about the efficacy of the project saw the plans rejected by Tower Hamlets Council despite being recommended for approval by Tower Hamlets planning officers and Historic England.

However, they have now effectively been overruled and work on the redevelopment can now begin.

When the plans were originally revealed in 2014, Nigel Webb, Head of Development for British Land, said: “This is a heritage-led scheme in a Conservation Area which will not only integrate with and enhance its surroundings, but provide a bridge between the City of London and Shoreditch.

“As has been well-documented, the technology, media and telecommunications sector is one of the engines of London’s growth, and one of our principal ambitions here is to create an environment in which these occupiers can thrive and grow.”

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