Visual consequences of the plan: Managing London's changing skyline

The skyline of London is composed of historic monuments of national and international importance, punctuated tall buildings built during post-war building booms, particularly since the 1960s. Currently, some of the tallest commercial and residential buildings are under construction and the emerging skyline is intended to reflect London's premier world city status, as a stable global capital that balances finance and culture within an integrated society. Its skyline image has been managed since 2000 by the Mayor of London through the London Plan. This paper will consider the historical, intellectual and policy basis that has permitted - indeed encouraged - the introduction of tall buildings into central London since 2000 by focussing on the design of the Heron Tower, located at the northern edge of the Eastern Cluster of tall buildings in the City of London, and discussions regarding its visual impact on St Paul's Cathedral. Drawings explore the visual impact of the City's tall buildings on a famous view of St Paul's from Waterloo Bridge, and highlight the subjectivity of visual inter-relationships experienced locally in the context of the persuasiveness of global finance.

Research highlights► In relation to planning policy in England and Wales, the regional London Plan emphasises the acceptability, even desirability of clusters of tall modern buildings in the setting of historic sites and monuments, providing they are of exceptionally high quality design. ► While tall building clusters are advocated by the London Plan, the benefits of the resulting visual effect is questioned by English Heritage (and other detractors) because of the loss of 'sky gap' and the agglomeration of forms. ► The assessment of the visual impact of tall buildings is controlled by viewing positions, and key views are defined in the London Plan. However, the realistic effect of tall buildings on London's skyline is experienced kinetically. ► The urban experience of tall buildings and the growth of clusters is subject to change over time and represents a prominent and highly mutable part of London's skyline and image.