City of London blasts English Heritage over Broadgate move
THE City of London yesterday hit out at English Heritage’s decision to recommend listing the Broadgate estate, saying that such a listing would “damage the City’s reputation as a global financial centre.”
The comments, made by the City of London’s policy chairman Stuart Fraser, follow a long-awaited announcement by English Heritage yesterday. The City of London is actively promoting new developments .
English Heritage dealt a blow to plans for investment bank UBS’ new £340m headquarters at Broadgate by recommending the listing of the two buildings on the site. British Land is developing the 5 Broadgate scheme for the Swiss bank but the architecture watchdog has recommended that Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt preserve Eighties-built 4 and 6 Broadgate.
English Heritage claims the development is among the best of its type and period “where commercial buildings and ‘people places’ harmoniously co-exist”. Hunt will now consider the matter.