Permission for tower block granted against advice of officers quashed by consent over “inadequate and/or unintelligible” reasons for approval

It also acknowledged that it provided “inadequate and/or unintelligible reasons” for the approval.

Tower Hamlets granted planning permission to the development in March this year, paving the way for the demolition and partial demolition of a number of buildings - including part of a primary school - along Whitechapel High Street and Commercial Street.

Under the plans, the block would be redeveloped with new buildings, including an 18-storey tower hosting office space and a community hall, alongside the relocation and expansion of the existing school playground and school annex.

Campaign group Save Britain's Heritage launched a judicial review challenge against the plans, after raising concerns that the project would leave just the facades of the buildings on the street, some of which date back to the 19th century.

The grounds advanced by the group argued that:

1. The council breached reg. 30(1)(d) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regs by failing to publish a statement of reasons for the grant of planning permission.
2. The council breached para. 10.3 of the council's Development Procedure Rules by failing to publish a detailed minute of the planning committee's reasons.
3. The council provided inadequate and/or unintelligible reasons for the grant of planning permission.
4. The council's decision to grant planning permission was irrational.
5. The council's decision to grant planning permission took into account an irrelevant consideration, namely a "land swap arrangement" involving a significant sum of money (circa £8.8m) being transferred by the developers to the council in exchange for some land within the site.

In an order issued by the High Court on 27 April, Mr Justice Mould allowed the group's claim on grounds two and three, and quashed the planning permission.

He also ordered the council to pay the claimant's costs.

According to the order, the council and the developers, Alliance, accepted that the decision was unlawful on grounds two and three. The parties reserved their positions in respect of the remaining grounds.

Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain's Heritage, said: "The reasons given by councillors for granting this contentious scheme, against officer recommendation, were clearly faulty and unjustified.

“With the support of local residents and leading Whitechapel community-based organisations, we are pleased to have been able to successfully challenge them – and hold the decision-makers to account. We are grateful to barrister Matthew Fraser of Landmark Chambers and solicitor Tim Taylor of Khift Ltd for their advice and action.”

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the High Court’s decision to quash planning permission granted on 27 April 2025. The planning application will now be reported back to the Council’s Strategic Development Committee at the earliest opportunity after the local elections.”

Adam Carey