Court clears way for ‘the Slab’ office block to be built on South Bank
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Judge dismisses challenge that argued development failed to provide housing and could damage London landmarks. The building of a controversial 25-storey office block nicknamed the Slab on London’s South Bank is to go ahead after the high court upheld a decision by the former communities secretary Michael Gove to approve the development.
Mr Justice Mould dismissed a legal challenge by the Save Our South Bank group, which has been fighting the development since planning permission was first submitted in 2021. The developers, Mitsubishi Estate, plan to turn the site of ITV’s former headquarters into offices, shops and an arts and culture space.
Save Our South Bank argued the development was unsuitable as it did not have any provision for housing, despite the location being designated as mixed use. They also pointed to the amount of carbon that demolition of the previous structures and construction of the new ones would generate, as well as the potential damage to nearby landmarks, such as the National Theatre and Somerset House.
“This judgment is a huge disappointment for anyone who loves the River Thames and South Bank,” said Michael Ball, of Save Our South Bank. “It supports Michael Gove’s wayward approval of a building about which he had great misgivings and acknowledged would harm a string of buildings of national prominence.”.
