[tateyb]

Hertsmere House Moving Ahead in London

The four-storey Hertsmere House office building in London's Docklands has been demolished to accommodate a soaring 67-storey skyscraper by Chinese development giant Greenland Group. Tower Hamlets’ Strategic Development Committee has reluctantly given the green light to the 240.5-metre proposal, which will become the tallest residential tower in Western Europe upon completion.

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The site at 2 Hertsmere Road falls within the West India Dock Conservation Area, a district rich in heritage buildings. Neighbouring residents spoke in solidarity with Canary Wharf Group, the Museum of London Docklands, and Credit Suisse, who all objected to the project. They cited density, height, shadowing, and the building's relationship with its historical surroundings as their chief concerns. While the committee heard these comments loud and clear, planning permission for another tower — approved by Mayor Boris Johnson despite its rejection by Tower Hamlets councillors in 2010 — already existed. The councillors feared that plan, which lacked sufficient community contributions and affordable housing units, would be resurrected if the current incarnation was sidelined.