Protest Against Destruction of Protected View Of St Paul's

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Friends of Richmond Park have launched a petition

One of south west London's most iconic views - St Paul's from Richmond Park - has been marred by the 42 storey Manhattan Loft Gardens building.

This week the developers of Manhattan Loft Gardens topped out their 42 storey hotel, shops and apartment building apparently constructed within the historic protected view-line from Richmond Park to St Paul's Cathedral.

Now the Friends of Richmond Park have launched a campaign demanding from the London Mayor and the Greater London Authority:

• An immediate enquiry into how and why planning permission was granted, particularly as the protected view requires "clear sky background" behind St Paul's

• Why St Paul's Cathedral, Historic England, The Royal Parks and others were not informed about the development

• What other developments have been granted planning permission within this and other protected view-lines

• Plans to mitigate damage to the protected view by the developers of Manhattan Loft Gardens

A spokesperson from the Manhattan Loft corporation said that the developer went through the proper public process to gain planning permission, "Planning approval was achieved in July 2011 and we were never asked about the London View Management Framework background view impact." She added that maps of the protected view indicated that the distance of the new building from Richmond Park fell outside the background area to be protected.

The St Paul's view was created in 1711 and has been preserved by generations of landscapers keeping the tree-framed sightline from St Henry's Mound to the Dome.

Friends of Richmond Park has launched a petition which has already attracted 7,500 signatures


December 19, 2016