Policy information sourced from the Tower Hamlets Local Plan
D.DH6 Tall buildings
1) Developments with tall buildings must demonstrate how they will:
- be of a height and scale, mass and volume that are proportionate to their role, function and importance of the location in the local, borough-wide and London context; and take account of the character of the immediate context and of their surroundings
- achieve exceptional architectural quality and innovative and sustainable building design, using robust and durable materials throughout the building
- enhance the character and distinctiveness of an area without adversely affecting designated townscapes and landscapes (including building/roof lines) or detracting from important landmarks, heritage assets, key views and other historic skylines, and their settings
- provide a positive contribution to the skyline during both the day and night time
- not prejudice future development potential of adjacent/ neighbouring buildings or plots
- maintain adequate distance between buildings to ensure a high quality ground floor experience and enhanced residential environment
- demonstrate consideration of public safety requirements as part of the overall design, including the provision of evacuation routes
- present a human scale of development at street level and comprise an attractive and legible streetscape that takes into account the use of the public realm for a variety of users and includes active uses at ground floor level
- provide high quality private communal open space, play areas and the public realm (where residential uses are proposed) for which occupants of the building can use and where appropriate provide shared facilities at the ground floor level to encourage social cohesion
- demonstrate that the development does not adversely impact on the microclimate and amenity of the application site and the surrounding area
- demonstrate that the development does not adversely impact on biodiversity and open spaces, including watercourses and water bodies and their hydrology, and
- comply with civil aviation requirements and not interfere to an unacceptable degree with telecommunications, television and radio transmission networks and river radar equipment.
2) Development of tall buildings will be directed towards designated Tall Building Zones (as shown on the Policies Map and Figure 7) and must apply the following design principles, having regard to the Tall Buildings Study and other relevant policies.
3) Outside these zones, tall building proposals (including those on site allocations) will be supported provided they meet the criteria set out in Part 1 and can demonstrate how they will:
- be located in areas with high levels of public transport accessibility within town centres and/or opportunity areas
- address deficiencies in the provision of strategic infrastructure
- significantly strengthen the legibility of a Major, District or Neighbourhood Centre or mark the location of a transport interchange or other location of civic or visual significance within the area, and
- not undermine the prominence and/or integrity of existing landmark buildings and tall building zones (taking account of the principles set out in Figure 8).
| Tall building zone | Principles |
|---|---|
| Aldgate | a. The background to the views of the Tower of London world heritage site from the Queen’s Walk at City Hall should be preserved. |
| Canary Wharf (Isle of Dogs) | a. Development within this location will be expected to positively contribute to the skyline of strategic importance and maintain the iconic image and character of Canary Wharf as a world financial and business centre. b. Individual buildings should be integrated into urban super blocks set in the public realm. c. Building heights within the Canary Wharf cluster should step down from the central location at One Canada Square. |
| Millwall Inner Dock (Isle of Dogs) | a. Building heights in the Millwall Inner Dock cluster should significantly step down from the Canary Wharf cluster to support its central emphasis and should be subservient to it. b. Building heights should step down from Marsh Wall and ensure that the integrity of the Canary Wharf cluster is retained on the skyline when seen from places and bridges along the River Thames across Greater London, particularly in views identified in Policy D.DH4. |
| Blackwall | a. Development heights should step down towards the edge of this cluster. b. The cluster must be subservient to and separate from the nearby Canary Wharf cluster and buildings should be of varying heights allowing sky views between them when viewed from the river or the Greenwich peninsula. |
| Leamouth | a. Tall buildings in this cluster should step down towards the River Thames and ensure glimpses and views across the cluster. |
For more information please see the Local Plan