Hertsmere House (Columbus Tower)

When the Mayor takes over an application for his own determination he must hold a public hearing before he decides whether or not to grant planning permission. The Hertsmere House (Columbus Tower) hearing was held on 7 October 2009.

Local planning authority ref no: PA/08/02709

The Mayor received notice from Tower Hamlets Council that it wished to refuse planning permission and conservation area consent for a 63-storey mixed-use, office and hotel building in Canary Wharf. On 26 August 2009, the Mayor notified the council that he would act as the local planning authority for the purposes of determining this planning application and the connected conservation area consent (under article 7 of the Mayor of London Order and the powers conferred by Section 2A of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act).

Following this notification by the Mayor, a public representation hearing was held on 7 October 2009 at City Hall. At this public hearing the application was presented to the Mayor along with oral representations from Tower Hamlets Council, four local residents and the applicant.

The Mayor considered all representations made and has accepted GLA planning officer’s recommendation:

'That the Mayor agree with the recommendation as set out in the officer’s report and addendum report and grant planning permission for the Hertsmere House planning application and the related conservation area consent as detailed within the report and subject to the conditions and reasons set out in respect of both applications within that report and subject to the prior completion of a section 106 agreement.'

'That the Assistant Director for Planning be delegated the authority to agree the final terms of the section 106 agreement, as detailed within the report. That the Assistant Director for Planning be delegated the authority to issue the planning permission and conservation area consent and the conditions and informatives set out in the report subject to any amendments he considers necessary.'

Details of the report, addendum report and decision notices are set out below.

The hearing agenda PDF
The hearing agenda RTF

Representation hearing report (stage III) PDF
Representation hearing report (stage III) RTF
Representation hearing addendum report (stage III) PDF
Representation hearing addendum report (stage III) RTF

Draft decision notice - Full planning application PDF
Draft decision notice - Full planning application RTF
Draft decision notice - Conservation area consent PDF
Draft decision notice - Conservation area consent RTF
Review of daylight, sunlight and overshadowing effects PDF
Review of daylight, sunlight and overshadowing effects RTF
Hertsmere House location map PDF
Hertsmere House site plan PDF

Further details on the procedures for the representation hearing PDF