Millennium Tower downsized

Kvaerner has abandoned its plans for the Millennium Tower in favour of a smaller skyscraper, just days before its planning application with the Corporation of London was to be determined.

A spokesman for Kvaerner confirmed that Sir Norman Foster has been asked to produce an alternative Millennium Tower scheme for the same site. Kvaerner expects the shorter tower design to be made public in July.

Corporation of London planners were to have decided on the proposal on Tuesday but their decision now has been delayed until either 1 or 24 July, said a spokeswoman.

"We're waiting on Kvaerner to clarify some issues," she said as CJ went to press.

Instead, Kvaerner has abandoned its initial plans and given Foster a new brief. There is not a new height specification for the smaller building but the ceiling limit preferred by the Civil Aviation Authority is about 330m, some 55m less than the original tower plan, said the spokesman.

"The Tower will not be as tall but it will reflect the same spirit as the original design," he said.

Specific points of concern to the Corporation planners included the CAA worries about the œ400 million Tower being in the flight path to Heathrow Airport and traffic management in the capital both during construction and during its operation, with thousands of visitors expected each day.

"The planners feel quite overwhelmed by all this," she said. The planners review of the scheme has been delayed as they wait for extra information from both the developer and concerned organisations, including CAA.