City of London Corporation: Local Plan intervention letter (accessible version)
Published 16 July 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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Matthew Pennycook MP
Minister of State for Housing and Planning
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Inspector Bridgwater and Inspector Phillips
Planning Inspectorate
16 July 2026
Dear Inspector Bridgwater and Inspector Phillips,
I am writing further to my letter of 25 June 2026 which directed you in respect of the emerging City of London Local Plan (the City Plan) and I am grateful to see that you have actioned my directions as a matter of urgency.
I would like to clarify that the directions in my previous letter apply only to the heritage impacts of the tall buildings contours on the Tower of London. To avoid the risk of misinterpretation and to ensure you are able to maintain the pace of your work, I am setting out the following directions to replace those in my letter of 25 June 2026 which are now withdrawn.
Pursuant to the powers in s.20(6A) of the 2004 Act I am directing you in respect of the City Plan as follows:
1. Per s 20(6A)(a): Not to issue your report in respect of the City Plan.
2. Per s 20(6A)(a): Not to consider any other matter in respect of the City Plan, with the exception of the specific matter highlighted in the direction in point 3 below.
3. Per s 20(6A)(b)(i): To consider the alternative proposal for the City Cluster tall buildings contours proposed by Historic England, and to specifically assess the economic and heritage impacts of that proposal in contrast to the economic and heritage impacts of the City Cluster tall buildings contours currently at Figure 15 in the City Plan, and to consider which of the two proposals strikes the most appropriate balance between protecting the Tower of London’s World Heritage Status and not unduly restricting economic growth.
4. Per s 20(6A)(ii): As part of direction 3 above, to hold a further hearing session(s) to allow the parties that made representations in relation to the Tower of London and City Cluster tall buildings contours policies to appear and be heard.
5. Per s 20(6A)(iii): Following the hearing session(s) required by direction 4 above to prepare written findings in the form of a post-hearings letter to be issued to the City of London Corporation.
The above directions will remain in force until withdrawn by the Secretary of State.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Pennycook MP
Minister of State for Housing and Planning