Major Shoreditch Redevelopment Decision Postponed After Councillors Reject Officer Advice
The fate of a significant 19-storey office tower proposed for the heart of Shoreditch's 'Silicon Roundabout' remains uncertain after Hackney councillors voted against their own planning officers' recommendation to block the scheme.
Planning Committee Defies Professional Guidance
During a lengthy five-hour planning committee meeting on Wednesday, February 4, councillors voted five to two to postpone the decision on the 'Shoreditch Works' project, despite clear advice from council planning officers to reject the application outright. The developer, Linea Properties Ltd, has now committed to making "significant amendments" to their proposals, which will be resubmitted for consideration at a later date.
Council officers had raised multiple concerns about the 9,000-page application, describing elements as "lacking in detail" and arguing that the proposed 'Verso' tower would be "too tall" and "obtrusive" for the local area. They also highlighted that the scheme failed to meet Hackney's affordable housing quota of 50% and workspace requirements of 10%.
Heritage and Community Concerns
Conservation groups including the Victorian Society and Historic England objected to the development, warning it would harm the historic Grade II* listed Philip Webb terraces on nearby Worship Street. The Hackney Society expressed "grave concerns" about the buildings' scale, density, and potential impact on carbon emissions.
Islington Council also raised objections, citing insufficient clarity about how the development would affect the "special character" of nearby Bunhill Fields cemetery, where notable figures including poet William Blake and author Daniel Defoe are buried.
Developer's Position and Support
Linea Properties argued they could not afford to deliver the project while meeting the council's affordability quotas, though independent consultants reviewed the scheme and concluded they could comply while still achieving a "small" surplus. The developer maintained that negative effects on heritage buildings would be "very minor" and disputed claims about major impacts on the area's historic fabric.
The council received 61 letters supporting the scheme, with backing from the Shoreditch Trust and praise from the City of London, which described the plan as "commendable" and deemed the height and density "suitable" for an inner city location. City Hall offered support "in principle" while noting the current proposal did not fully comply with the London Plan.
Revised Proposals and Future Process
Following the meeting, Hackney's regeneration chief and deputy mayor, Councillor Guy Nicholson, confirmed that the developer had committed to creating more affordable workspace and bringing forward the refurbishment phase for the listed terrace buildings. These "significant amendments" will now be formally resubmitted as required under planning law, with a final decision to be made at a future planning committee meeting.
The 'Shoreditch Works' project promises to deliver space for 4,150 workers while adding 40 new residences, increasing the site's total homes to 78, with 35% available at social or intermediate rent levels. However, planners noted only one family-sized home at social rent was included in the current proposals.
