Historic England has said KPF’s plans for a 33-storey tower at 70 Gracechurch Street in the Square Mile should be turned down because the design is not good enough and will blight views of the Tower of London.

In a letter to the City of London’s senior planning officer, Kurt Gagen, the government’s heritage advisor warns that the scheme will also harm views of St Paul’s Cathedral as well as lead to such a loss of light at nearby Leadenhall Market that “it could have a negative effect on the market’s future sustainability”.

But in its letter, Historic England’s principal inspector of historic buildings and areas, Michael Dunn, reserves his harshest criticism for the quality of KPF’s design.

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