Tower Hamlets Council must reconsider controversial plans after High Court ruling issued this week, reports SAVE.
SAVE writes:
… The High Court has quashed a decision taken by councillors to greenlight plans for an 18-storey tower in the heart of Whitechapel, against their own officers’ recommendation….
This is the culmination of judicial review proceedings launched by SAVE Britain’s Heritage in collaboration with local residents to challenge the process by which the council’s planning committee made its decision.
In his ruling, High Court Judge Mr Justice Mould confirmed that the decision to grant planning permission in March 2026 was unlawful and failed to provide adequate or intelligible reasons for approving the plans.
SAVE’s barrister, Matthew Fraser of Landmark Chambers, argued that the councillors’ decision to approve the scheme was irrational, as it was based on reasons which were ‘unsubstantiated by any evidence’ and ‘so generic as to be meaningless’, and ultimately failed to engage with the comprehensive assessment for refusal put forward by officers.
The campaign was strongly backed by Whitechapel Gallery and Toynbee Hall, neighbouring leading arts and community institutions who have been in this part of East London for over 100 years. They raised serious concerns that the scheme prioritised the creation of commercial office development over the needs of the East End.
Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said: ‘The reasons given by councillors for granting this contentious scheme, against officer recommendation, were clearly faulty and unjustified. With the support of local residents and leading Whitechapel community-based organisations, we are pleased to have been able to successfully challenge them – and hold the decision-makers to account. We are grateful to barrister Matthew Fraser of Landmark Chambers and solicitor Tim Taylor of Khift Ltd for their advice and action.’
Gilane Tawadros, director at Whitechapel Gallery, said: ‘As a longstanding local public arts institution, committed to our civic responsibilities, we welcome the news of this successful challenge by SAVE and local residents. This is a uniquely special, historically significant area of London with global relevance as a beacon of cultural and creative innovation. Whitechapel Gallery is passionate about ensuring that it sustains its legacy as a place of, and for, local communities and fully support the campaign against this unwarranted and unnecessary commercial development.’
Katie Taylor, director of policy, research and communities at Toynbee Hall, said: ‘The successful judicial review highlights the power of community voice in shaping local decisions. Not only must the site’s historical character be respected, but the needs of the local community must also be met. Proposals for an 18-storey office tower looming over a primary school, blocking its sunlight, reflect a clear misalignment of priorities. This outcome rightly calls on the council to reconsider and ensure that both heritage and community wellbeing are properly addressed.’
To read more about the background to this case go to the following link:
