High Court Upholds Decision to Approve ‘Unattractive’ Development of Former ITV HQ
9/1/25
The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge to Michael Gove's decision to approve two towers at ITV's former HQ on 60-72 Upper Ground on London's South Bank, known as 'The Slab', despite the former Secretary of State's misgivings about its environmental impact and harm to the character of the area.
These misgivings were echoed by the judge in the High Court, Mr Justice Mould, who concluded in his decision: "It may seem surprising that [Mr Gove] should find that a scheme which would not deliver an attractive development of this very prominent and sensitive site on the South Bank should nevertheless be given planning permission.
"That, however, is a matter for [Mr Gove's] judgement as the planning decision maker in this case."
Mr Mould dismissed the High Court challenge from campaign group Save Our South Bank, following a long battle from when planning permission was submitted in 2021. The Save Our South Bank petition was signed by more than 6,000 people and the crowd fund appeal for the campaign legal costs raised many thousands of pounds.
In May 2023, Mr Gove received an Inspector's report recommending approval but did not take a decision for ten months. Mr Gove disagreed with the Inspector about the impact on major heritage assets in the capital, including harm to Grade I listed Somerset House, the Royal National Theatre and finding that the new development "would not provide a positive contribution to the townscape of the South Bank".
Despite his significant misgivings, Michael Gove approved the controversial office towers in February 2024 following a letter to then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, from the chief executive of Mitsubishi, the developer and one of London's major landowners. The letter reveals Mr Sunak was lobbied by Mr Atsushi Nakajima and held a "productive conversation" in 2023 when Sunak was in Japan for a G7 summit.
Following Mr Gove's decision to approve the application, a legal challenge was brought by Save Our South Bank, a coalition of local opponents supported by the Twentieth Century Society and others, who argued that the decision was legally flawed and contradicted local and national priorities regarding both home building and reducing carbon.
Michael Ball from Save Our South Bank said: "This judgement is a huge disappointment for anyone who loves the River Thames and 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.
"The decision reveals planning protections are flawed and have failed: The site is designated for mixed development including housing, and could provide over 200 homes, but there is no housing, despite currently including buildings that lend themselves to conversion; The demolition and development will generate huge amounts of carbon, which is completely unnecessary; The Queen's Walk is not designated for tall buildings but will now get one; A string of buildings of national prominence will not be protected from harm.
"This is a devastating decision for the community, and we are considering our options carefully."
Source: www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-our-south-bank