“Stop demolishing youthful concrete towers at whim,” developers have been told on the opening day of a planning inquiry into Mitsubishi Estate’s and CO-RE’s 72 Upper Ground, SE1.
Objectors said “the Slab”, which is a redevelopment of the former ITV studios on London’s South Bank, would generate more carbon emissions in its construction than if the 4,000 office workers it is designed to house were to drive in from Surrey for 30 years.
The scheme, which includes a 26-storey tower linked to a 13-storey block, was called in by the then levelling up secretary Greg Clark in August, despite Lambeth Council giving the development the go-ahead earlier this year, with approval backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan.
Demolition of the current building was paused in April by Michael Gove while ministers considered whether to call in the application.
