UK ministers back City skyscraper plans after heritage row

Ministers have resolved a heritage dispute surrounding the Tower of London, ruling that the City of London Corporation's existing development plan will protect its Unesco status. The intervention by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook in June 2026 followed concerns raised by Historic England, a government advisory body, that potential future skyscrapers in the City could harm the World Heritage Site and put it at risk of being added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage in Danger.

Pennycook directed inspectors to halt the publication of the City Plan 2040 and to consider Historic England's alternative proposal for tall building contours. He also mandated further hearings to assess the economic and heritage impacts of both proposals. The City of London Corporation had argued that Historic England's suggested changes would unduly restrict economic growth and make little difference to heritage protection, with its policy chairman Chris Hayward stating that the delay had already stalled schemes and affected investor confidence.

Historic England maintained that its proposed changes were the minimum necessary to protect the World Heritage Site and would not prevent the City from achieving its office floorspace requirements. Ben Du Feu, a barrister representing Historic England, stated the changes would result in a more deferential relationship between the Tower and the City Cluster. Melissa Hamnett, director at Historic Royal Palaces, supported Historic England's position. Representatives from Tower Hamlets Council believed the Corporation's original proposal was sufficient with other safeguards in place.