Chief Rabbi troubled by tower plan near synagogue

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis says Bevis Marks, which is the oldest synagogue in the UK in continuous use, is a "deeply resonant symbol of the history of British Jewry"

The UK's Chief Rabbi has written to the City of London's Lord Mayor saying he is "troubled" by new plans for a 43-storey office block "on the doorstep" of the 17th Century Bevis Marks Synagogue in central London.

A similar scheme in Aldgate was previously refused by the City of London Corporation after Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis wrote to the last Lord Mayor, Alderman William Russell, in March 2021.

Developer Welput's plans would see a block on Bury Street a few storeys smaller and slimmer at the top, to allow more light to fall on the synagogue.

Welput said it had "sincere respect for the historic and cultural importance of the area" and had developed the proposal "with such heritage sites in mind".

Rabbi Shalom Morris from Bevis Marks Synagogue previously said the application was a "grotesque attempt by developers to mislead the British public"

In his letter to Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli, the Chief Rabbi claimed the tower could "significantly affect the natural light that can reach the building".

He added Bevis Marks, which is the oldest synagogue in the UK in continuous use, is a "deeply resonant symbol of the history of British Jewry", and allowing the tower to be built would impact certain religious practices at the synagogue due to reduced views of the sky from a south-facing position.

The Chief Rabbi also expressed disappointment that the Creechurch Conservation Area, part of the City's local plan, would not "protect Bevis Marks Synagogue from this type of scenario".

It comes as hundreds of residents from the UK and abroad also filed oppositions to the proposals, including another former Lord Mayor, Sir Michael Bear, who was in the position from 2010-2011.

Sir Michael wrote that building the tower would cause "substantial harm" to the Grade I-listed synagogue and wider area, and would have a "disproportionate negative impact" on the Jewish community.

Rabbi Shalom Morris, from Bevis Marks previously described the application as a "grotesque attempt by developers to mislead the British public - they imply that they have satisfied us (which is completely untrue), and they claim a long list of planning benefits (most of which are spurious)".

The Chief Rabbi said the development would impact religious practices due to reduced views of the sky

A spokesperson for Welput said: "We have a sincere respect for the historic and cultural importance of the area around this site, including Bevis Marks Synagogue, and have developed our proposal with such heritage sites in mind.

"Most notably, we have meaningfully reduced the height of Bury House and articulated the building at the upper floors with additional steps."

They added Welput had consulted charities, schools and the synagogue "throughout" the planning process, reflected by "detailed reports on this consultation and how it has shaped the submitted proposals" including regarding daylight and sunlight.

A City of London Corporation spokesperson said: "The City of London Corporation has formally approved the local plan for the Square Mile, known as 'City Plan 2040', which is undergoing further public engagement and will be followed by a public examination conducted by an independent planning inspector.

"The proposed plan recognises the importance of local heritage assets such as the Bevis Marks Synagogue, and contains measures that seek to give them effective protection.

"The plan also states that developments should form a positive relationship with the synagogue, without dominating or detracting from its architectural and historic value."

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