Developer Hammerson plan to eradicate Shoreditch and expand the north western fringe of the City of London. The first phase is already under way with the Northgate Development (also known as Bishops Place) next to the Broadgate Tower. It is situated at the southern end of Shoreditch High Street bounded by Worship Street, Bowl Court, Curtain Road, Norton Folgate and Hearn Street. Bishops Place’s critics are particularly opposed to the planned demolition of The Light, a former electrical power station dating back to 1893 which now houses a popular bar and restaurant.
Construction may not start till perhaps as far off as 2010 since full planning permission has not yet been awarded but Hammerson are confident and have already started to clear the site by removing the old railway viaduct. Development time is estimated at 6 and a half years.
Galloway, in whose Bethnal Green & Bow constituency the Bishop’s Place scheme would be built, has called for the Hammerson development to be halted.
He said: “We need to send a clear message to developers that whilst London does need regeneration, we do not want a situation where skyscrapers are being built at all costs, with no respect for the surrounding environment. Are the people of the East End literally to be overshadowed by the City of London, the richest square mile on earth?”
Hammerson also plan to build a massive tower on a traffic island in Shoreditch and a series of towers stretching from west to east through the derelict Bishopsgate Goodsyard. The Shoreditch Tower is a joint venture with the City of London and would be built over the railway like Broadgate Tower. Then there is the Bishopsgate Goodsyard parcel – even larger in scale at over 10.
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1 response so far ↓
tyke // July 1, 2008 at 12:32 pm |
Watch out for Hammersons, they are an evil bunch that had no qualms cheating people out of their homes in Leeds. If you own any property in Hammersons’ sights I suggest that you get a lawyer immediately.