Balcony gardens to 'modernise' vacant City Hall

The proposals involve removing the exterior glass shell of the building

London's former City Hall, which has stood empty since the mayor and London Assembly left in 2021, is to be re-purposed into shops, restaurants and offices under plans from its landlord.

Southwark Council's planning committee has approved the proposals, which involve removing the exterior glass shell of the building and creating new balconies with gardens.

The authority's planning officers said the revamp would "modernise" the building on the South Bank and "bring it back into use".

However, Historic England said the project would cause "some harm, of a low level, to the significance of Tower Bridge".

In 2020 it was reported that City Hall was costing the GLA £11m a year

Under the plans, spaces for cafes, shops and restaurants would be on the ground floor with office spaces proposed for the upper floors.

Part of the building would also be extended, which Historic England said would "encroach" on the view of the bridge when seen from a key pedestrian route linking Tooley Street with the Thames.

Most of the organisations and public bodies consulted on the plan to "revitalise" the old City Hall had raised few or no objections to it ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

Some had expressed concerns about aspects of the scheme or asked that conditions be imposed as part of planning permission.

City Hall was purpose-designed by Lord Norman Foster as the Greater London Authority's (GLA) headquarters and was opened by the Queen in 2002.

Former mayor Ken Livingstone referred to it as a "glass testicle", while his successor Boris Johnson dubbed it the "glass gonad".

In 2020 it was reported that the building was costing the GLA £11.1m a year, including rent to St Martins, plus service charges and rates. This was due to rise to £12.6m a year after Christmas 2021.

The decision to move the GLA's headquarters to the Crystal building in Newham – which it owned – was made by mayor Sadiq Khan.

He argued in 2020 that the move would "save £55 million over five years, which would help us to protect and invest in the things that matter most to Londoners, as well as supporting the regeneration of the Royal Docks".

The GLA has been based at its new headquarters from early 2022.