The decision regarding Bury House was welcomed by Historic England, but a heritage group criticised the simultaneous approval of the 1 Undershaft project.
The City of London rejected plans from Stiff & Trevillion for a controversial 43-storey office tower due to concerns about its impact on the UK’s oldest synagogue, Bevis Marks.
At Friday’s planning committee meeting, councillors voted 14 against and 8 in favour of building Bury House, despite planning department recommendations to approve the project.
The rejection came three weeks after Communities Secretary Angela Rayner intervened, imposing Section 31 restrictions that barred construction approval until a national review of the application. That intervention is now void, but Welput may appeal.
A Welput representative stated the company was “surprised and disappointed” by the decision and is now “considering all possible options.”
The project proposed an environmentally-friendly and modern office building, capable of attracting business into the city centre. However, its proximity to Grade I-listed Bevis Marks Synagogue drew over 1,300 public objections.
A previous version of the project was rejected in 2021, after which the building’s height was reduced by five storeys. However, critics claim the changes were minimal, and the building could block the moon, affecting the Kiddush Levana religious ritual.
Former Lord Mayor Michael Bear harshly criticised the decision to approve the plan:
“The synagogue is a living centre of an important community, and our multiculturalism and religious tolerance should not be ignored,” he stated.
Historic England praised the refusal of Bury House but criticised the approval of the 1 Undershaft project—a 74-storey tower that will rival The Shard in height. They emphasised the negative impact on public space and the Tower of London.
Representatives of Historic England urged small changes to construction plans, which would preserve London’s unique architectural heritage and ensure harmony between new developments and historic landmarks.