PRESS RELEASE: SAVE renews objections to controversial plans for historic Whitechapel  

SAVE opposes demolition plans in London's historic East End and construction of 17-storey tower block

31st October, 2024 

SAVE Britain’s Heritage has renewed strong objections to revised plans to flatten prominent historic buildings on Whitechapel High Street, and build a 17-storey tower block. 

The newly submitted documents are part of an ongoing scheme to demolish a series of handsome historic buildings at 101-105 Whitechapel High Street and 2-6 Commercial Street which serve as a prominent gateway to the Whitechapel High Street Conservation Area.  

Revised plans, designed by architects Foster & Partners for Alliance Property Asia Inc, now retain the facade of 2-4 Commercial Street, previously earmarked for demolition, which would front the new tower block.  

At over four times the size of the retained frontage, this new development would bear no relationship to the existing terrace and would unacceptably introduce the high-rise scale of the neighbouring City fringe into the conservation area, creating a canyon-like effect over Whitechapel High Street and setting an alarming precedent for the erosion of this area’s historic character. This limited facade retention does not alter the fundamentally damaging nature of the wider scheme.  

Lydia Franklin, conservation officer at SAVE Britain's Heritage, said: "Conservation areas are meant to protect historic streetscapes from exactly this type of overscaled development. It's the wrong scheme in the wrong place."

SAVE has resisted similar schemes for a tall building on this characterful corner since 2018, with other national heritage organisations also raising concerns.

You can object to the application by adding your comments here (or by using planning reference no. PA/24/00173/A1) before Thursday 7th November. 

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

1/ For more information contact elizabeth.hopkirk@savebritainsheritage.org or call the office on 020 7253 3500. 
 
2/ SAVE Britain’s Heritage is an independent voice in conservation that fights for threatened historic buildings and sustainable reuses. We stand apart from other organisations by bringing together architects, engineers, planners and investors to offer viable alternative proposals. Where necessary, and with expert advice, we take legal action to prevent major and needless losses.