A major property developer has abandoned its attempt to overturn a planning refusal for a 43-storey skyscraper next to London's oldest synagogue. The real estate fund Welput has formally withdrawn its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, ending its latest fight to build the tower adjacent to the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue in Aldgate.
Plans Rejected Over Impact on Heritage Site
The controversial scheme, which proposed demolishing Bury House and redeveloping Holland House, was rejected by the City of London Corporation in December 2024. The planning committee refused permission after extensive debate, primarily due to the severe impact the tower would have on the Grade I-listed synagogue. Bevis Marks, which has been in continuous use since its construction in 1701, argued that the skyscraper would overshadow its grounds, block crucial daylight, and disrupt religious practices.
Central to the synagogue's objections was the need for a clear view of the sky for Jewish worship, including sightlines for observing the moon. The proposed development threatened to crowd out this view. The application, a revised version of an earlier 48-storey proposal refused in 2021, attracted massive public opposition, with over 1,400 formal objections lodged.
High-Profile Support for the Synagogue
The campaign to protect Bevis Marks garnered support from prominent national figures. These included the UK's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, and renowned historians Sir Simon Schama, Tom Holland, and Simon Sebag Montefiore. Rabbi Shalom Morris of Bevis Marks had previously attended hearings on the City of London's draft development plan to voice ongoing fears about the threat of future high-rise projects to the synagogue's historic setting.
Welput's plans had included office space alongside community and creative facilities within the Grade II-listed Holland House, with promises of public realm improvements. Despite these offers, the harm to the heritage asset was deemed too great.
Appeal Lodged and Then Withdrawn
In a bid to revive the project, Welput lodged appeals with the Planning Inspectorate for both the Bury House and Holland House sites in October 2025. An initial procedural date of 3 February 2026 was set for the Bury House appeal. However, both appeal entries have now been updated with a status marked 'complete: appeal withdrawn'.
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation confirmed the situation, stating: “The City has been informed by the Planning Inspectorate that an appeal submitted by the applicant earlier this year, has been withdrawn.” This decision brings a temporary reprieve for the synagogue, though concerns about the long-term pressure of development in the City's eastern fringe remain.
