After Liverpool’s waterfront was delisted as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2021, it is now the all-time British classic of the Tower of London, of which the earliest remnants date all the way back to the eleventh century, that might be losing its status. The monument’s protected views and cultural value are suffering from the many skyscrapers that are being built around it, according to Historic England and the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
Even though skyscrapers aren’t new when it comes to London’s city centre, there is a reason why the matter is surfacing right now. Historic England and the International Council on Monuments and Sites are specifically concerned by the so-called City Plan 2040, a draft plan by the City of London Corporation to develop new residential and office buildings. In a submission seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Historic London points out that London’s projected policy on building is likely to “severely harm” monuments such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.
Following the submission, UNESCO has now asked the LDRS for a State of Conservation Report. This should be submitted by 1 December, to be examined by its committee in 2025.
“This request arose from the Centre’s view that the World Heritage property may face cumulative impacts, including from the rapid development of new high-rise buildings in the immediate vicinity of the property, and the lack of protection of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value – the reason why it was inscribed – through an adequate buffer zone and a thorough visual impact study”, explained a UNESCO spokesperson.
“The Plan will ensure the development protects and celebrates all our heritage assets while continuing to support the economic growth of the capital. In the City, growth and conservation combine to define what is unique about the Square Mile, and this is ultimately at the heart of the Plan”, commented Shravan Joshi, deputy chair of the CLC’s planning committee.
The government has now confirmed the report will be ready by December. Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the Tower of London, will also be contributing to the report and has already made clear its concerns about the City Plan 2040. If UNESCO is to study the subject, the organisation will be assessing the “level of threat” faced by the Tower of London and whether or not further measures are necessary.
