In a ruling handed down last week by High Court justice Michael Fordham, the City of London Corporation was given the go-ahead for the scheme, known as London Wall West, even though a breach of planning rules was found.
The campaign group Barbican Quarter Organisation (BQA) applied for permission in February 2025 for a judicial review of the demolition-led plans, which was held earlier this month.
BQA had argued that alternatives to demolition of the western part of the Barbican Estate, parts of which are listed, were overlooked.
Fordham found that the City had breached planning laws by failing to properly separate its roles as planning authority and developer and had withheld relevant documents explaining the separation to non-decision makers.
However, the court still upheld the permission on the basis that approval would ‘highly likely’ have been reached anyway, even if the correct test had been applied.
Responding to the decision, BQA said: ‘We are disappointed by today’s decision and while the outcome is not what we had hoped for, we respect the court’s process and the with which the case was considered.’
The group added: ‘This case has always been about ensuring transparency, accountability and fairness in planning decisions. Although the judgment does not go in our favour, we firmly believe that raising these issues was both necessary and justified. Legal action is only one part of a much broader effort to advocate for meaningful change, and that work continues.’
A spokesperson on behalf of the City of London Corporation as applicant said: ‘We welcome the Court’s judgment dismissing the challenge to the grant of permission for the London Wall West development scheme.
‘As the City prepares for significant employment growth in the years ahead, this scheme will play an important role in supporting that future. It will deliver around 56,000m² of high‑quality, environmentally sustainable office space, creating capacity for nearly 3,100 jobs. Just as importantly, the development will bring major benefits to the public.
‘It includes a 43 per cent increase in public space, a new flexible cultural area, an elevated terrace with impressive views of landmarks, including St Paul’s, and improved public access to the Roman Wall and the high walk. The setting of the listed Ironmongers’ Hall will also be enhanced.’
The defendant in the case, the City of London Corporation, had granted permission for the scheme in April 2024 as both the landowner behind the project and the planning authority.
The proposals include demolishing the former Museum of London and 17-storey office block Bastion House and replacing them with three new office buildings, the tallest of which is 16 storeys.
Both the Museum of London and Bastion House are landmark 1970s buildings, designed by Powell & Moya, on the edge of the Grade II-listed Barbican Estate.
The legal case, according to the campaign group’s legal team, was granted on three grounds relating to the absence of appropriate arrangements to ensure impartiality in the determination of the application, the failure to apply policy relating to avoiding demolition and the failure to consider alternative schemes, not least those involving less demolition.
The plans for the site attracted more than 800 objections, according to Cornerstone Barristers, which have been instructed by Barbican Quarter Organisation’s lawyers, Leigh Day.
Arguments against the project have been on heritage grounds and the climate impact, including the high embodied carbon emissions of the redevelopment.
The campaigners have argued that retrofitting was never properly considered by the City of London.
In April last year, then housing secretary Michael Gove put a pause on the plans with a holding directive to allow environmental and heritage impacts to be considered. However, this was lifted a month later.
The London Wall West proposals also include 8,000m² of new cultural space featuring galleries, performance venues, cafés, restaurants and 12,500m² of new landscaped, outdoor open space.
The City of London previously said demolition of the site was expected to start in 2028. The scheme is due to complete in 2033.
The Museum of London site closed in late 2022 and is being relocated to West Smithfield, where it will be known as London Museum. It is due to open next year.
The Museum of London building was built in 1977 and featured on The Twentieth Century Society’s At Risk register in 2023, placing it among the top 10 heritage buildings most in jeopardy of demolition, redevelopment or neglect.
The City of London Corporation and Sheppard Robson declined to comment. Diller Scofidio + Renfro has been approached for comment.
Source:Robert Evans
Museum of London/Bastion House, City of London, by Powell & Moya (1977)