London's skyscraper obsession is threatening our Bevis Marks Synagogue - it's a 300-year-old national treasure

Rabbi Shalom Morris of Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London, which was built in 1701, described the site as a “national treasure” which would be compromised if its view of the sky was crowded out by nearby development.

A clear view of the night sky and the moon is necessary for Jewish worship, as well as maintaining the synagogue’s light during the day and preserving its historic setting.

“Bevis Marks Synagogue is…rightly a Grade-I listed building, but it is so much more than that,” Rabbi Morris said. “It is a national treasure.”

Rabbi Morris’ comments came at the latest public hearing inspecting the City of London Corporation’s draft City Plan 2040.

Covering everything from transport and development to the management of green spaces, the draft plan features an extensive list of strategic priorities and objectives including becoming a net zero city and adding more than a million square metres of office floorspace.

A previous draft, City Plan 2036, was proposed and consulted on in 2021 having been worked on since 2016. The Corporation however chose to not submit it to the Secretary of State for final approval due to a number of issues raised during consultation.

The revised draft City Plan was submitted last August and is in the process of being examined by Planning Inspectors Alastair Phillips and Jameson Bridgwater before it can be adopted.

The hearings on heritage and tall buildings, the first of which was held earlier today (June 10), are among the last to be scheduled.

The second session on the topic is penned in for tomorrow, with just one more day, on the Temple, Thames Policy Area and Key Areas of Changes, planned for June 12.

Questions relating to the impacts of tall buildings and other developments on heritage have been a theme through many of the meetings held so far.

In a hearing statement submitted ahead of the first session back in March, Historic England wrote the Corporation’s drive for more office space “within the extent of the two tall building zones identified would lead to significant levels of harm to the historic environment”.

Much of today’s discussion revolved around the consideration of ‘setting’ and ‘immediate setting’ in the draft plan.

For the synagogue, which is in Creechurch and so within the City Cluster, the concern is that alleged ambiguity in the draft plan means its required clear view of the sky may not be preserved.

Roger Hepher, Executive Director at hgh representing the synagogue, said the protections within the draft plan do not go far enough.

“In our view the City have not got a proper evidence base,” he told the hearing. “There’s not a proper understanding of the importance, the matter of setting and the context of the synagogue particularly, and the importance of maintaining what remains of the open view of the sky.”

Tom Nancollas, Assistant Director (Design) at the Corporation, reiterated throughout the day that the City believes there are adequate protections in the draft plan, pointing out it is the first time the synagogue has been specifically earmarked as a site where development should preserve, and where possible enhance, elements contributing to its heritage assets.

He added the Corporation recognises the synagogue has a “general affinity for the sky”, to which Mr Hepher said Mr Nancollas’ statement demonstrated a “lack of fundamental understanding” as to the sky view’s importance to the community.

Rabbi Morris later provided further historical context demonstrating the significance of the synagogue, including a quote from King James II in 1685 which stipulated Jews living in the City “should not be troubled, upon this account, but quietly enjoy the free exercise of their Religion, whilst they behave themselves dutifully and obediently to his Government”.

Noting the Corporation acknowledges the sky view is important to the synagogue, Rabbi Morris added: “I would say to the City, let’s agree on that point and then we can get on to defining that sky view to be protected.”

Rabbi Morris also revealed the synagogue is intending on applying for ‘intangible world heritage status’ later this year following the UK Government’s recent decision to follow the UNESCO scheme. This effectively means traditions and events, as well as buildings and built environments, can be afforded levels of protection usually reserved for ‘tangible’ pieces of history and culture.

Later in the meeting, Mr Hepher told the inspectors: “The fact is the sky view is very important to the significance of the synagogue. As a listed building it is important to its setting. As a place of worship it is fundamentally important. As a centre of community life it’s very important. The sky view has been progressively closed in over many years and so we are now left with an essential minimum.”

The inspection will continue tomorrow with the hearing to focus on the topic of tall buildings.

Last December plans for a 43-storey skyscraper by Bevis Marks Synagogue were refused by the City of London Corporation.

Officers had recommended the proposal be approved, though members sitting on the Planning Applications Sub-Committee rejected it due to its expected impact on the synagogue.

Rabbi Morris said at the time the synagogue was “very pleased” by the refusal, adding it would have led to a tall building being constructed in the Creechurch Conservation Area, “contrary to the adopted Local Plan”.