20 Blackfriars Road, London

Public inquiry into the proposed Mirax-Beetham Tower at Blackfriars Bridge and the 20 Blackfriars Road development. Christopher Katkowski QC led Scott Lyness acting for the developer promoting office and residential towers with retail and community uses, totalling over 80,000 sqm of development. The inquiry was conjoined with an inquiry into Beetham’s tall building proposals at 1 Blackfriars Road, which considered the effect of the proposals on views from St James' Park and, in the case of the 20 Blackfriars Road proposals, the effect of the scheme on views from the Westminster World Heritage Site. The Secretary of State granted planning permission for the mixed use proposals by Circleplane Ltd at 20 Blackfriars Road, including a residential tower at 148m and an office tower at 109m. The scheme, designed by Wilkinson Eyre architects, was opposed by the Mayor of London, Westminster City Council and English Heritage.