Metrospective Cloud descends on City

GLA gives reassurances that Foster/Nouvel scheme will not be blocked by protected views

Legal & General submitted its planning application for a new office scheme designed by Foster & Partners and Jean Nouvel this week as developers celebrated their successful lobbying of the Greater London Authority to allow a free rein to development in London's historic core.
The insurance company's application for Walbrook Square, dubbed the "Cloud", had been expected a year ago. The application followed private briefings from the GLA on its forthcoming policy on strategic views.
L&G was one of the first developers to lobby for a new policy on strategic views, which is now being prepared by the GLA in its final form. It updates rules prepared in 1991 to protect 10 key views of St Paul's and the Palace of Westminster.
The policy was published in draft last April, but the final document has been delayed because the GLA received so many responses. However it invited L&G and other developers and heritage lobbyists to a private briefing on May 12. L&G emerged confident the scheme can proceed to planning.
A spokesman for L&G said: "Walbrook Square has been designed as a response to the strategic views and the local views that exist. As far as we understand it, the GLA's rewritten draft of the strategic views document will continue to narrow the strategic views as proposed in the original document."
Peter Rees, chief planning officer for the Corporation of London, said: "Within the Square Mile, the L&G building is the only substantial site with an impact from the narrowing of the mayor's viewing corridors.
"In terms of strategic planning, the scheme is predicated on a narrowing of the viewing corridors. Legal & General make no secret of that: they've been campaigning on the issue for years."
Walbrook Square, a 90,000sq m office and retail development, has been designed by Foster & Partners and Jean Nouvel for the site of the present L&G headquarters, Bucklersbury House, which is to be demolished. It is 106m at its highest point.
The 1.5ha site is 500m east of St Paul's and one sector of the scheme falls within a current strategic view of the cathedral.
L&G's development will be centred on a new public square and streets based on historic routes through the site. It consists of a cluster of four buildings with sculpted lower "plinths" topped by lightweight "clouds", designed to appear from distant views to float above the plinths and shimmer against the sky.
It will contain shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and an exhibition space housing remains of the Roman Temple of Mithras, to be returned to their original location beside the ancient Walbrook river, and is expected to achieve a Breeam "excellent" rating.
L&G is set to move its own headquarters on Coleman Street, EC2, in summer 2007.

(by James Rose; courtesy of www.bdonline.co.uk )