One Blackfriars Road, Southwark Building London, Architecture Image, Design

One Blackfriars Road

Southwark Skyscraper: Tower Development London, England design by Ian Simpson Architects

29 Apr 2013

Number One Blackfriars Road

Design: Ian Simpson Architects

Height: 51 storeys

Photo of the site from the east (looking west) from 29 Apr 2013:

photograph © Adrian Welch

News update – context:

Ludgate House & Sampson Houses Building Development – planning approval, 9 Oct 2013
Architect: PLP Architecture

One Blackfriars Road

News Update – Apr 2009

Westminster City Council High Court bid to stop Doon Street tower development – set for Jun 2009 with WCC apparently confident of a victory. The Doon Street tower has been referenced as precedent in approval for One Blackfriars (Ian Simpson Architects) and 20 Blackfriars (Wilkinson Eyre), skyscrapers proposed for Southwark. Westminster City Council are apparently concerned to protect key views for example from St James Park out to the east over the River Thames.

image from The Beetham Organisation 100108

News Update – Mar 2009

Communities secretary Hazel Blears approves South Bank towers by Ian Simpson and Wilkinson Eyre. More details online soon. 26 Mar 2009

Beetham Tower threat : London Mayor – 14 May 2008
Boris Johnson’s manifesto had a number of proposed London skyscrapers in his sights: first up for formal intervention is Ian Simpson Architects’ beleaguered Southwark tower. Previously approved then thrown back into jeopardy by a ministerial referral this will provide an clear indication of the new Mayor of London’s approach to the capital’s architecture

News Update – March 2008:
Controversially called in by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears in Mar 2008

Apparently there is a concern the proposed development might not follow guidance on tall buildings by CABE & English Heritage and that it might fail to tie in with government policy on affordable housing.

For The Beetham Organisation
261-room Jumeirah hotel + apartments

now 51 storeys & 170m high
orig. 68/70 storeys, 225m high

Status: approved initially Jul 2007, revision Dec 2007

One Blackfriars Road – text from Beetham Organisation 191207
Final seal of approval for new landmark tower for London

image from architect

A landmark slender tower, which will house a six-star hotel and apartments, next to the Thames at One Blackfriars Road SE1, was given the go-ahead by Southwark Council last night (18 December) following modifications to the scheme agreed with English Heritage.

This follows planning consent being granted by Southwark on 24 July this year, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State and English Heritage. The developers, Beetham Organization, consulted with English Heritage and agreement was reached to reduce the height of the 52-storey tower to 170 metres.

Southwark Council last night approved all the modifications and the development, will now go ahead. The 261-room hotel, complete with spectacular ballroom, meeting rooms, a number of restaurants and bars, a high-tech spa, health and leisure facility and a public viewing platform at its highest level will set a new benchmark for quality hotels in London.. The tower will also house 64 apartments and the skydeck. At the tower’s base will be a wrap-around plaza, with cafes, restaurants and shops. Ian Simpson Architects designed the tower, following on from landmark schemes with Beetham Organization in Manchester and Birmingham.

Hugh Frost, chairman of Beetham Organization, said: “One Blackfriars Road is destined to become a major iconic landmark and will bring a major boost for the South Bank as one of the capital’s leading tourist destinations.”

One Blackfriars Road design : Ian Simpson Architects

Location: 1 Blackfriars, London, England, UK