Deputy Prime Minister to Review Synagogue-Adjacent Tower Block Proposal

Plans for a 43-storey tower block situated near the UK’s oldest continuously used synagogue will be evaluated by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. This follows the government’s intervention to prevent the local authority from granting approval. The application for the construction of the office block, located a short distance from the Grade I-listed Bevis Marks Synagogue, is scheduled to be presented to the City of London Corporation’s Planning Committee next month. However, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has imposed a restriction on the corporation’s ability to grant permission, enabling the government to consider the case. Rabbi Shalom Morris of Bevis Marks Synagogue, which was founded in 1701, stated that he “welcomed the intervention”. He further commented: “The future of Bevis Marks Synagogue is now very much on the national agenda, as befits its Grade I-listed status and its historic role in British Jewry.” The government’s issuance of an Article 31 Holding Direction does not preclude the committee from examining the application or expressing its opinion, nor does it stop members from rejecting it. However, it signifies the government’s intention to thoroughly scrutinise the application prior to any potential approval. Under developer Welput’s proposal, Bury House would be demolished to facilitate the construction of a 43-storey office tower on its site. Additionally, the Grade II-listed Holland House and Renown House are slated for partial demolition and redevelopment, which would create new community and cultural facilities alongside the office space. Since its submission, the proposed development has garnered over 1,300 objections, primarily stemming from concerns regarding its potential impact on the synagogue. A previous, taller 48-storey proposal for the same location was rejected by the City of London Corporation in 2021. Historic England has characterized the present submission as inferior to the previously refused plans, citing its adverse effects on the Tower of London and the Grade II-listed Holland House. Among those who have voiced concerns regarding Welput’s proposed scheme is the UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis. Historians Sir Simon Schama, Tom Holland, and Simon Sebag Montefiore have also registered their objections to the plans. Welput, having foreseen the intervention, stated it was “ready to present the compelling attributes of our proposal to the secretary of state”. A spokesperson for Welput further commented: “It is our steadfast commitment to maintaining an open and co-operative dialogue with all community stakeholders, including the Bevis Marks Synagogue, and to continue exploring constructive solutions that bring this exciting community-driven project to fruition.”