PRESS RELEASE: Add your voice to protect famous synagogue from 43-storey tower

Help protect Europe’s oldest continuously used synagogue from plans that would plunge it into darkness

2nd May, 2024

SAVE Britain’s Heritage has written to object to plans for a 43-storey tower that would seriously harm the significance of one of the UK’s – and Europe’s – most important religious buildings.

Grade I-listed Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London dates from 1701 and has been a centre of worship and Jewish life ever since. The building, tucked away in its own courtyard metres from the Gherkin, has survived wars and successive waves of development. In recent years the threats have intensified but so far they have all been successfully defeated.

Earlier this year the synagogue was given official protection with the designation of a new conservation area in Creechurch. Despite this, fresh plans have been put forward for a 178m tall tower right next to it.

SAVE has written to object to the plans which would seriously harm the significance of this internationally important building. It's not too late to have your say by adding your comments here (or by using planning application reference no. 24/00021/FULEIA) before the deadline of 15th May.

This is the third recent application that has threatened Bevis Marks, a building of outstanding architectural and historic interest, as reflected in its Grade I listing, the highest possible level of protection. SAVE objected in 2019 and again in 2020 to a harmful proposal for a 20-storey building at 33 Creechurch Lane which would have drastically overshadowed the synagogue and its secluded courtyard. Similarly, in 2022 an application for a 48-storey tower at 31 Bury Street was rejected as harmful and overbearing.

The current proposal comes just months after the Creechurch Conservation Area was designated in January 2024, covering the application site.  The new proposals would demolish Bury House, at 31 Bury Street, and erect a building nine times its size. This would be a vast and overwhelming step up in scale and would run counter to the City of London’s own planning policy which states that tall buildings are inappropriate within conservation areas.

SAVE has submitted a detailed letter of objection setting out the damage the proposals would cause to the synagogue, its setting and the wider conservation area.

We consider that the proposed 43-storey tower, which would be visible from within the synagogue’s courtyard, would have a direct and substantially harmful impact on its setting and secluded nature. The sky view from the courtyard has religious importance and allows daylight into the synagogue’s beautiful interior. This was a reason for the refusal of a previous tower proposal.

SAVE also expressed strong concerns about the harm a building of this height would cause to the adjoining grade II*-listed Holland House, with its spectacular glazed bricks and mosaics, and unlisted 1912 Renown House, for which rooftop extensions are also proposed. A building of this scale would cast a shadow over multiple highly listed buildings within the Creechurch Conservation Area, including the, 17th-century St Katherine Cree Church and 18th-century St Botolph’s, both grade I listed and located at its heart.

Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said: “This damaging planning application comes hot on the heels of a brand-new conservation area within London’s famous Square Mile and if granted would make a mockery of the purpose of conservation areas which exist to protect the special architectural and historic character of a place. Any development here should respect the extremely sensitive setting of one of Europe’s most important buildings as well as the character of this richly historic conservation area.”

 

Background

Previous, unsuccessful proposals for tall buildings within the setting of the Bevis Marks Synagogue in 2019 and 2022 have been highly controversial and contentious. The synagogue, which is of the highest possible listed status, is one of England’s most important religious buildings and is of exceptional historic and architectural value. Constructed between 1699-1701 to designs by Joseph Avis, the synagogue was home to the Sephardic Jewish Community which first settled in Aldgate in the 18th century. It is the only synagogue in Europe that has been in continuous worship for over 300 years.

Holland House is a grade II*-listed building constructed between 1914-16 to designs by the Dutch architect HP Berlage with interiors by Henri van de Velde. The steel-framed building is clad in grey-green faience with a black marble base and doorway. Architectural historian Pevsner has described the building as being of “remarkable design” which is a testament to its architectural prestige. 31 Bury Street (Bury House) is an unlisted extension to Holland House by Gotch & Partners in 1967 which is harmonious in scale with Holland House.

The application has a determination deadline of 1st July, 2024.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. For more information contact Elizabeth Hopkirk – elizabeth.hopkirk@savebritainsheritage.org / 020 7253 3500.
  2. Read and comment on the planning application on the City Corporation’s website here (or by using planning application reference no. 24/00021/FULEIA) before 15th May.
  3. SAVE Britain’s Heritage is an independent voice in conservation that fights for threatened historic buildings and sustainable reuses. We stand apart from other organisations by bringing together architects, engineers, planners and investors to offer viable alternative proposals. Where necessary, and with expert advice, we take legal action to prevent major and needless losses.