We are proud of our position as the first class architects London enjoys turning to. One part of our excellent services is understanding rules for building projects. This may be a small expansion or building a new high-rise. Regardless, you can rely on Coffey Architects.
London’s Tall And Well Known Architecture
There are a number of high-rise buildings throughout London. This includes the Shard, the Gherkin, the Walkie-Talkie, and the Cheesegrater. They are recognisable because of the designs and colourful names. Some of the best architects London has ever seen designed them.
People in London have numerous skyscrapers to admire and even more are on the way. The discussion group New London Architecture carried out a survey in 2017. They found that there were 510 buildings of 20 storeys or more in the planning or developing stage in the area. While there is no single definition of a high-rise, people should remember that it is relative to the area. Cities with small buildings may consider it a 10+ story building with others classing it as a tower with 40.
Up To England’s Councils
Building skyscrapers and high-rises needs to follow a lot of the same rules as other projects. With any planning application, they have to go through the relevant local council. They will then make a choice on whether to give it the permission it is looking for. Any projects, but larger ones in particular, need careful consideration. This is because they will shape the area for years.
Because of this, planning approval bodies must consider the complexities of the project. This includes future impacts as well as:
- How much the building would block light for anyone around.
- Whether it would increase noise, wind turbulence or reflected glare.
- Effects on public services, transport, aviation, navigation and telecommunication.
Specifics Of London
With proposed London developments, there are a number of guidelines to follow. The mayor’s office provides these for the city.
An example is how people should only add tall buildings in certain areas. This includes those where its character would not be negatively affected by the size of the high-rise. Rather, it should complement the other architecture in the area. It should also be something beneficial for the local community.
Another rule is how views of points of interest need protecting. An example of this is from the development of the Cheesegrater building. Its profile needed tapering because otherwise it would have interfered with the sight line of St Paul’s Cathedral. This is part of the reason why London has few skyscrapers with a rectangular shape. Also, it is why so many are in similar areas.
The idea of taller buildings like skyscrapers is beneficial as there is a lack of urban space. On top of this, there is high demand for housing because prices are high. This suggests people are likely to plan more high rises for the future. Chances for getting the go-ahead are high, with the City of London approving 99% of applications in 2017-18.
Whatever your project is Coffey Architects would love to help it reach its full potential. To start discussing details or for more information, call the architects London loves today. We are ready to take on projects of any scale.