London's Square Mile: Heritage vs. High-Rise Development
On 28 November, the Museum of London will officially open its doors at Smithfield Market, marking a significant victory for heritage advocates who opposed plans for an office tower back in 2014. The decade-long campaign, spearheaded by Save Britain's Heritage and the Victorian Society, saw director James Hughes voicing optimism for the new location. Designed with input from over 100,000 residents, the museum anticipates attracting two million visitors each year, redirecting the City of London's emphasis towards cultural initiatives. Ongoing redevelopment disputes include the approved 1 Silk Street project, which will feature two skyscrapers, and Network Rail's proposal for Liverpool Street Station, which involves a 97-meter tower. Later this year, the Corporation will introduce new heritage guidelines to balance development with conservation.
Key facts
- Museum of London opens at Smithfield Market on 28 November
- Save Britain's Heritage and Victorian Society won 2014 campaign against office towers
- Museum expects two million visitors annually
- 1 Silk Street development approved in May with two skyscrapers (16 and 20 storeys)
- Lipton Rogers Developments and LaSalle Investment Management involved in 1 Silk Street
- Network Rail plans 97m-tall tower at Liverpool Street Station
- City of London Corporation approved half a million sq m of new office space in 2025
- City of London has nearly 600 listed buildings and 27 conservation areas
Entities
Institutions
- Museum of London
- Save Britain's Heritage
- Victorian Society
- City of London Corporation
- Historic England
- Network Rail
- Lipton Rogers Developments
- LaSalle Investment Management
- Greater London Authority
- Barbican Centre
- Bloomberg
Locations
- London
- Smithfield Market
- 1 Silk Street
- Liverpool Street Station
- Bishopsgate
- St Paul's Cathedral
- Monument
- Tower of London
- Lloyd's Building