Londoners call for limit on skyscrapers, says new poll

As the London skyline is set to irrevocably altered with more than 400 high-rises planned, a new survey has revealed that Londoners want curbs placed on the number of new high-rise buildings in the capital.

The major survey of London residents, undertaken by Ipsos Mori, shows that 60% of Londoners support a limit on the height of new skyscrapers, with the same proportion backing restrictions on the number of buildings with more than 50 floors.

According to the survey, many Londoners, particularly those who live in the most affected areas, believe that the trend towards taller and bolder skyscrapers has gone too far. More than 400 buildings of more than 20 floors are planned in London according to a recent report by New London Architecture, which is more than double the number of two years ago.

Developers have already been encountering opposition from local residents unhappy about skyscrapers and luxury property developments in their areas and protests seem set to increase if this poll is anything to go by. Architect Barbara Weiss, who is co-founder of the pressure group Skyline Campaign, said that the big increase in skyscrapers was down to local borough councils trying to raise money and former mayor Boris Johnson’s desire to boost London’s international profile.

“It’s partly austerity because boroughs are strapped for cash and can’t run normal services,” said Weiss. “Councils need money; developers provide money,” she said.

The survey found that those who live in the city centre feel more strongly about the pace of development. Around 50% of those who live in inner London said that there were too many high-rises being built, with the figure falling to 34% for residents outside the centre.

Many people thought that tall buildings are “damaging what makes London special”, with 43% of people in inner London believing this but only 34% further away from the city centre.

Conversely, around 50% of people in outer London said new skyscrapers were improving the capital’s skyline, while only 34% of central Londoners believed this to be the case. In terms of dealing with the issue, the survey revealed that 60% of inner London residents would like new tall buildings limited to areas such as Canary Wharf and the City.

Overall, the poll showed that Londoners believe that tall buildings are not the best way to solve the housing crisis. Terraced houses, low-rise blocks and flat conversions were all cited as much better ways to meet the capital’s housing needs. 

There are signs that the London skyline is becoming a political issue, with 31% of the 504 people surveyed by Ipsos Mori saying they would be less likely to vote for a mayor who supported more tall buildings. New London mayor Sadiq Khan has already spoken out against residential skyscrapers while flats stand empty and criticised the role of wealthy foreign investors. 

Given these comments, it will be interesting to see Khan’s housing plans which are set to be outlined in a new housing policy paper due to be published this autumn.