Tower of London on Unesco danger list
Salon IFA reports that:
'Unesco is considering adding the Tower of London to its list of endangered World Heritage Sites because of the number of skyscrapers being planned for the surrounding area. If they decide to list the Tower, it will be the only World Heritage Site in the developed world on the endangered list. Press reports say that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been given until the end of January to demonstrate to the Unesco World Heritage Committee why the Tower of London should not be included on the list and give a timetable for ‘corrective action’.
DCMS is expected to say that the correct planning procedures were followed for the proposed developments, which include the 306-metre-high ‘Shard of Glass’ tower planned for London Bridge, the 200-metre Minerva building, the 324-metre-high Bishopsgate tower and the 209-metre building at 20 Fenchurch Street, all of which will affect the Tower of London’s setting and skyline.
The World Heritage Committee says it notes ‘with great concern’ the proposed developments, which fail to respect the significance of the site and they ‘deeply regretted’ that the Government had not examined the impact of such developments on the Tower. It also suggested that the developments would have a wider impact, affecting other World Heritage Sites, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Unesco will make a final decision in June.'
'Unesco is considering adding the Tower of London to its list of endangered World Heritage Sites because of the number of skyscrapers being planned for the surrounding area. If they decide to list the Tower, it will be the only World Heritage Site in the developed world on the endangered list. Press reports say that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been given until the end of January to demonstrate to the Unesco World Heritage Committee why the Tower of London should not be included on the list and give a timetable for ‘corrective action’.
DCMS is expected to say that the correct planning procedures were followed for the proposed developments, which include the 306-metre-high ‘Shard of Glass’ tower planned for London Bridge, the 200-metre Minerva building, the 324-metre-high Bishopsgate tower and the 209-metre building at 20 Fenchurch Street, all of which will affect the Tower of London’s setting and skyline.
The World Heritage Committee says it notes ‘with great concern’ the proposed developments, which fail to respect the significance of the site and they ‘deeply regretted’ that the Government had not examined the impact of such developments on the Tower. It also suggested that the developments would have a wider impact, affecting other World Heritage Sites, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Unesco will make a final decision in June.'
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Salon 156: 15 January 2007 |
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