City Pride | Canary Wharf | 239m | 75 fl | Proposed

[mulattokid]

It does look a lot taller than its stats suggest in that render.

[london lad]

Originally Posted by Langur

Ok but assuming it does get approved, what are the chances of the developers pressing ahead with it straight away?

Well if it gets approved the developers initially said they would want it complete by 2012 ( can't remember exactly but they are plenty of articles earlier in the thread) however this could simply be developers positive PR spin. As with most new proposals developer says they will build it for such & such a date but the reality doesn't usually match the expectations.

I have no idea how the developers propose to fund this & what with the market in the doldrums I doubt this would still be on track for a 2012 finish.

[Langur]

^ Thanks for the info.

[tonkster]

Originally Posted by beleevme

anyway, back to the topic of the city pride, i think it blends well with it surroundings, looking more akin to the neat residential buildings nearby than the other glass boxes planned for the area
proves to some that a 13 year old can make sensible comments...

Even though he doesn't know how to use punctuation.

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by Manuel

What's fantastic about this tower?

Mainly the things that Langur has already said. It has great proportions.

I also like the fact that it is predominantly a white building which will be a break from the plethora of glass buildings we have been seeing. The cladding style is a nod to the style of waterfront marina buildings only stretched up vertically so its very appropriate for the location.

Most of all its just a straight forward simple design that is 'easy on the eye'. I think I am starting to incresing like these types of designs, the simple curve of Baltimore Wharf for instance.

[london lad]

This has now got planning permission....

http://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/04/plann...nd-island.html

Planning Wrap: Pride and Island Point green-lit
By John Hill on April 16, 2009 4:21 AM |


Island Point scheme granted after deferral

Chairman casts tie-breaking vote after Pride Row

Tower Hamlets councillors faced angry heckles from frustrated Islanders as two controversial schemes were approved.

Strategic Development Committee members were harangued by shouts of "shame", and Labour members were accused of being "in bed" with developer Glenkerrin after plans for the Island Point and Pride developments were cleared on Wednesday night.

The meeting had been put off for two weeks due to concerns about a clash with the G20 world summit, affecting the ability of residents to attend. But the crowd that made it to the Town Hall were outraged as committee chair Cllr Shafiqul Haque placed his casting vote in favour of the 62-storey Pride scheme to break a 4-4 tie.

The Island Point development - a 189-unit development at 443-451 Westferry Road - had been approved earlier by a vote of four to two, following its deferral at a previous meeting in February.

Lockesfield Place resident Gill Crawford rounded on committee members including Cllr Haque, who was widely mocked in the chamber for adjourning for legal advice before laying down his vote on the Pride. The confusion which arose from a query about grant funding on the Island Point scheme also bemused many watching residents.

Committee members had eventually decided to opt for an Island Point plan that was not reliant on Glenkerrin receiving a grant to help off-set the cost of affordable housing, a move which Cllr Tim Archer claimed would leave the application "on quicksand". Cllr Marc Francis later moved successfully to seek such funding for the Pride scheme.

Ms Crawford said: "We're reviewing the situation because of what's gone on here tonight.

"As a resident, I found the ineptitude of the committee mindboggling. Here they are, voting on things that leave a lasting legacy for a community, and they haven't got the first idea what they're doing."

Ms Crawford had previously called on the committee to listen to the hundreds of residents who had objected to the linked schemes.

She announced she had collected 700 objections to the Pride, and that another 700 had barely missed the council's submission deadline.

She said: "There's a massive objection to these developments. We residents have united for the future of the Island and voiced our objections like never before. Tower Hamlets Council says it wants its borough to be a great place to live. Now prove it."

Glenkerrin reportedly paid £64.9million for the two Westferry Road sites, a derelict area at 443-451 and the site of the City Pride pub. It linked the two schemes to enable it to locate 91 per cent of the affordable housing at Island Point, with just five per cent in the Pride Tower.

Residents in communities such as Lockesfield Place, Chapel House Street and St Davids Square were battling Island Point due to fears that the affordable and social housing split would create "ghettoisation" in the area, and that the buildings rising up to eight storeys would result in a loss of light for existing homes. A total of 296 letters of objection were raised against the application, with 152 supporting.

pridetower.jpg

Along Westferry Road, neighbours of the Pride feared the effect that the densely-populated tower would have on the area.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Blackwall and Cubitt Town councillor Phil Briscoe revealed the density of the 430-unit tower would be nearly four times the council's own guidelines. He claimed the scheme even trumped developments in traditionally-dense areas such as Mumbai, Shanghai and Sao Paulo.

He said: "The Pride would represent a level of residential density not seen before in London."

Development control manager Stephen Irvine admitted that this "wouldn't be acceptable everywhere in the borough", but argued that the site was exceptional due to its proximity to upcoming tall developments such as Riverside South and Heron Quays West.

He mused that he was aware of a denser development in Elephant and Castle, and some in Hong Kong.

Opinions differed on the merits of the Pride, which will also feature a nine-storey hotel with 203 rooms.

Jim Pool, of planning consultants DP9, claimed it would provide benefits for residents and locals alike, offering facilities such as a public bar.

He said: "We believe the scale of the development is contextual, and fits in with the emerging Canary Wharf cluster."

However, Alpha Grove community centre director Rhys Johnson claimed the area would "struggle to cope" with further high-density development.

He said: "The gains have not been shown throughout the community. There's been no improvement in the quality of life for people suffering from deprivation."

02Apr24CityPride.jpg

Committee members were also split. Cllr Archer described the Pride as "a shocking application", while Cllr Shahed Ali was concerned that any problems with the hi-tech car parking facilities would turn Heron Quays roundabout into a "taxi rank". Cllr Josh Peck observed that the building was smaller than One Canada Square while featuring 20 per cent more floors, but development control manager Mr Irvine admitted the council "doesn't have a policy" on minimum ceiling height beyond that dictated by building control.

Cllr Francis argued that there was "sometimes a price to be paid to get extra affordable housing", and praised the "exceptional design" on the "narrow" site. He was eventually backed by chair and Labour colleague Cllr Haque as the meeting moved past 10pm.

[Bob]

"Cllr Josh Peck observed that the building was smaller than One Canada Square while featuring 20 per cent more floors, but development control manager Mr Irvine admitted the council "doesn't have a policy" on minimum ceiling height beyond that dictated by building control."

It's residential, not office, that's why. I don't mind people being ill informed, but is that ALL he had to say? I can see why the islanders are annoyed at the ignorance of those making the decisions. Luckily the right decision IMO, but decisions do seem to be about luck and that's no way to run anything.

[RiffRaff]

Originally Posted by london lad

Ms Crawford said: "We're reviewing the situation because of what's gone on here tonight.

Sigh...

How long before we hear it has gone to appeal, PI, etc,etc,etc......

[delores]

I know i feel it's coming and for no apparent reason apart from some ridiculous rants from so called locals.

[DarJoLe]

209m Pride tower approved
Leon Walker, Regen.net, 23 April 2009

A 62-storey mixed-use development in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets has won full planning permission.

The Pride tower would hold 430 homes, a hotel, spa and night club within its 209 metre height, according to developer Glenkerrin.

It would be built in conjunction with adjacent development Island Point, which also won full permission at the council meeting earlier this month.

Island Point would be a low-rise, low density housing development of 189 homes.

Some commentators have criticised the discrepancy in affordable housing content between the two schemes.

Some 91 per cent of the Island Point development would be affordable housing, compared to just 5 per cent of the Pride development.

[Bottlefall]

Wooohooo

[twilight_2008]

Fantastic. How residents can complain about the height when they have Riverside South being built nextdoor, the tallest skyscraper in Canary Wharf is beyond me.

No mention of when they will start construction

[Comdot]

i take it this is full planning permission not just outline?

[twilight_2008]

Read the first sentence of the latest article. May be a clue.

[Comdot]

sorry. that was very thick of me indeed.

[LONDON STAR]

So is this gonna be a columbus tower where theres a lot of hype and then northing happens.

[AXISPAW]

Originally Posted by LONDON STAR

So is this gonna be a columbus tower where theres a lot of hype and then northing happens.

Well unless the rich develepor funding it dies then no

[Jim856796]

Along with the Columbus Tower (if that tower ever gets built), the City Pride should be one of two 200-metre residential-hotel skyscrapers near Canary Wharf.

[LONDON STAR]

Originally Posted by AXISPAW

Well unless the rich develepor funding it dies then no

PIG flu

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

Along with the Columbus Tower (if that tower ever gets built), the City Pride should be one of two 200-metre residential-hotel skyscrapers near Canary Wharf.

Plus, quite likely, Wood Wharf too.