Redevelopment of former City Hall approved, featuring balcony gardens

The building that previously housed London’s City Hall, vacant since the departure of the mayor and London Assembly in 2021, is slated for conversion into retail, dining, and office spaces, according to proposals from its owner. Southwark Council’s planning committee has given its approval to these plans, which entail the removal of the building’s external glass facade and the addition of new balconies adorned with gardens. Planning officials from the council stated that the renovation would “modernise” the structure situated on the South Bank and “bring it back into use”. Conversely, Historic England commented that the undertaking would inflict “some harm, of a low level, to the significance of Tower Bridge”. The proposals outline that areas for cafes, retail outlets, and eateries will occupy the ground level, while office accommodations are designated for the higher floors. Additionally, a section of the building is slated for expansion, a modification that Historic England indicated would “encroach” upon the vista of the bridge when observed from a crucial pedestrian pathway connecting Tooley Street to the Thames. The majority of organizations and public entities consulted regarding the initiative to “revitalise” the former City Hall had presented minimal or no objections prior to the meeting held on Tuesday. A minority had voiced apprehensions concerning certain elements of the project or requested the imposition of specific conditions as part of the planning approval. Lord Norman Foster specifically designed City Hall to serve as the headquarters for the Greater London Authority (GLA), and it was inaugurated by the Queen in 2002. Ken Livingstone, a former mayor, famously called the structure a “glass testicle”, whereas his successor, Boris Johnson, referred to it as the “glass gonad”. Reports from 2020 indicated that the building incurred annual costs of £11.1 million for the GLA, encompassing rent paid to St Martins, along with service charges and rates. This figure was projected to increase to £12.6 million per year following Christmas 2021. Mayor Sadiq Khan made the determination to relocate the GLA’s main offices to the Crystal building in Newham, a property owned by the GLA itself. In 2020, he asserted that this relocation would “save £55 million over five years, which would help us to protect and invest in the things that matter most to Londoners, as well as supporting the regeneration of the Royal Docks”. The GLA commenced operations from its new headquarters beginning in early 2022.