Plans for skyscraper metres from Britain’s oldest synagogue in City of London sparks hundreds of complaints

Hundreds of people have written to the City of London to protest against “wholly inappropriate” plans to build a 43-storey skyscraper next to Britain’s oldest synagogue.

Proposals have been submitted for the tower block on Bury Street metres from the Grade I listed Bevis Marks synagogue and the scheme has been dubbed an “obscenity” by objectors.

The synagogue has spent years fighting plans for tower blocks nearby and proposals for a 48-storey office block were previously rejected by the City of London in October 2021 as it would overshadow the site.

Rabbi Shalom Morris previously told The Standard services at the synagogue would become “almost impossible” as they would block out nearly all sunlight.

Developer Welput, who were behind the 2021 scheme, has now put forward plans for a shorter tower which is slimmer at the top to allow more sunlight onto the synagogue.

But it has drawn 298 objections in just over a month, with many raising concerns about the consequences for the religious site.

One objector wrote: "What message would permitting this obscenity send about the City of London and its values to the hundreds of thousands of visitors, including school children and those from across the UK and overseas, who will come to visit over the new few years?

"This kind of proposal would never be considered within the vicinity of St Paul's Cathedral, and should certainly not be permitted just metres from British Jewry's Cathedral synagogue, particularly along its sensitive southern exposure."

Another wrote they are “astonished and appalled” to see the new application, highlighting that the area has become a Conservation Area since the last application was refused previously.

In December the synagogue secured protection against local planning developments after the City of London voted to set up a conservation area around the site.

Highlighting the changes another person wrote: "I consider that this planning application should never have reared its head again in only a slightly revised format to that which has already been rejected.

"It is an absolute disgrace that the City of London Planning Committee that passed the Conservation Plan which was approved so recently, should be undermined.

“This proposed development will have serious detrimental effects on the Bevis Marks Synagogue, which is a Grade I listed building and should have the same protection as St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. Would you do this to those buildings?"

Rabbi Morris told the Standard in February that a new tower-block next to the synagogue would be “a nail in the coffin scenario” and that a tall building would “dominate” the religious site.

The rabbi has warned that a tower next door would “infringe on certain religious practices for the community as well that require views of the sky”.

A spokesperson for Welput previously told the Standard the Bury Street project “seeks to maximise heritage, environmental and public benefits by considering the future use of the entire site.

“We have a sincere respect for the historic and cultural importance of the area around this site, including Bevis Marks Synagogue, and have developed our proposal with such heritage sites in mind.

"Most notably, we have meaningfully reduced the height of Bury House and articulated the building at the upper floors with additional steps."

The developer and City of London have been contacted for further comment.