Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has used his new powers to overturn a local authority decision to approve a major development in east London. The mayor has stepped in to approve Columbus Tower on the Isle of Dogs. Tower Hamlets LBC had rejected a renewal of planning permission for the site after it had lapsed. The council cited the negative effect it could have on nearby listed buildings and conservation sites. But the mayor said he ‘took over' the planning application in order to scrutinise it for himself, due to it being of major strategic importance for the whole of the capital. Conditions attached to the application include a £4m contribution towards Crossrail, £1m towards affordable housing in the area, and more than £2m towards local bus services. The mayor said: ‘I am satisfied that all major concerns have been addressed, and I believe the application will not only strengthen the success story of the Isle of Dogs, but will be hugely beneficial to the whole of London.' Labour assembly member, John Biggs, described the decision as ‘muddled'.
