CV55

Issue no 55

N E W S

A N D

K E Y

I S S U E S

F O R

T H E

C I T Y

O F

L O N D O N

December 2005

cityview

City security

always alert London 2012

City development

Olympic challenge

new buildings on the way

2 C I T Y V I E W

cityviewmagazine Welcome to cityviewmagazine

C O N T E N T S C I T Y

A C A D E M Y

new home for Academy pupils

3

T H E I N T E R V I E W

increase the peace C I T Y

4

S E C U R I T Y

judging the threat G U I L D H A L L

A R T

6

G A L L E R Y

sign of the times L O R D

M A Y O R ’ S

S H O W

8

2 0 1 2

the Games just got serious D E V E L O P M E N T

12

F O C U S

snowy backdrop A R T S

10

P L A N N I N G

the City never stands still A R T S

Unless otherwise stated in individual features, more information on both the magazine and online articles is available from the addresses below.

7

show time!

L O N D O N

cityview is the magazine of the Corporation of London, provider of local government services for the City of London.

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If you would like to receive a summary of this publication in your language or in an alternative format such as large print, Braille or audio tape, please contact The Public Relations Office Corporation of London PO Box 270 Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ

F O C U S

timeline

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...and finally

16

020 7332 3099 pro@corpoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk We welcome, and value, feedback but regret that correspondence cannot be individually acknowledged.

MAILING ENQUIRIES cityviewmagazine

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C I T Y V I E W C I T Y

A C A D E M Y

New home for Academy pupils The City of London Academy in Southwark got the VIP treatment for its official opening in September as Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed pupils to their new buildings.

Principal Martyn Coles was “delighted that we now have the facilities and excellent learning environment that the young people of Southwark and the City so richly deserve.”

The Corporation is the sole sponsor of the Academy, providing £2m towards its creation,which specialises in business and enterprise.Around 540 pupils aged 11-14 and a sixth form of 60 students from Southwark and the City of London already attend.By 2009 it is anticipated that the Academy will teach 1,200 pupils each year.

Policy and Resources Committee Chairman Michael Snyder believes that the Corporation’s commitment to providing excellent education facilities “will benefit London’s young people.We are now looking forward to replicating the success of the City of London Academy in two more academies in our neighbouring boroughs of Islington and Hackney.”

More information www.cityacademy.co.uk

Although the Academy opened two years ago pupils were taught in temporary accommodation while the new state-of-the-art buildings in Lynton Road were being built – both to time and budget.

The Academy’s buildings reflect its focus on business and enterprise,with fully technology-equipped classrooms,interactive whiteboards and a computer ratio of almost 1:1.The FTSE 100 Index will be displayed in the Atrium.It also has physical education facilities,including a large sports hall,dance and gym studio,full size football pitch and tennis courts.

O N L I N E

O N L I N E

cityviewonline

liverylivedigest

November Off the rails

September Park life

The Worshipful Company of

The Wax Chandlers’ Company

Goldsmiths’ latest exhibition –

has called on designers from

Report says number of rail and

New leaflet publicises around

On the Cuff, from Fabergé

across Europe to enter its

underground commuters could

200 areas of open space in

to Fashion Statement –

competition where the top

rise by a quarter by 2016

the City to enjoy

featured more than 400 exhibits.

prize is £3,400.

020 7606 7010 or

020 7606 3591 or

the.clerk@thegoldsmiths.co.uk

info@chandlers.ndonet.com

Home time

Pilot Scheme takes flight

Corporation to invest £165m

New central contact system

in housing stock under

for the public to be tested

‘decent homes’ standard

by Corporation

The Worshipful Company of

The Worshipful Company of

October

August

Framework Knitters celebrated

Marketors has presented

20 years of its bursary and

Austrian student Andreas

Business as usual

Work it out

City Business Library hosts

City workers’ attitudes to

awards scheme with a special

Eisingerich with a special

event around setting up your

Corporation, police and other

reception bringing together past

award for best postgraduate

own business

issues shown in survey

award winners, lecturers and

dissertation on marketing.

current students.

01727 824446 or clerk@marketors.org

Take into account

Capital gain

Corporation consults on whether

Museum of London’s Capital

01708 510439

a summary of its Statement of

City project awarded £10.6m

clerk@frameworkknitters.co.uk

Accounts is needed

by Heritage Lottery Fund

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/cityview www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/liverylive

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4 C I T Y V I E W

T H E I N T E R V I E W

Peter Riddell of The Times talks to Policing, Security and Community Minister Hazel Blears

increase the peace The worries of City businesses and workers about terrorist attacks and crime generally are fully understood in the Home Office. Hazel Blears, the Minister for Policing, Security and Community, appreciates both what has already been done in the Square Mile and the need for constant preventative activity.

Ms Blears is probably the best known minister outside the Cabinet – deputy to Charles Clarke and frequent defender of Government policy on television.The smallest minister at barely five feet, she has a formidable energy and drive, as reflected in her love of tap dancing and motorbikes. But contrary to her often relentlessly on-message image in public, she is, in private, both well-briefed and reflective.

Her central theme is there is “a really significant security threat to the whole country”, and the City is obviously a prime target as a “major financial centre where international terrorists could inflict maximum disruption.”

Ms Blears notes that years before 7 July the City had already put in place “the ring of steel”. She also points to the close partnership on terrorist issues between the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as on 7 July, when one of the attacks was on the fringes of the City at Aldgate.

She cites the work of community support officers as an extra visible presence, to reinforce the security cordon in addition to the private security operations of individual City businesses.

The police and security services also have detailed plans to protect the national infrastructure, including key City sites, to ensure that the City continues to function. Ms Blears has been involved in several meetings with business leaders and residents, as well as the City Police, about prevention and resilience.

These preparations are regularly tested, both in public exercises involving the main emergency services and local authorities, and in table top exercises held on average three times a year.

The lessons of 7 July are also,she says,being considered.She points,in particular,to communications and the work of the casualty bureau which took 120,000 calls.There are questions about how quickly it was set up,what is its function,and what is its role for family and friends? What use should be made of its data base:is it recording missing persons or helping with the investigation?

In general,Ms Blears believes that the emergency and other services functioned well on July 7 and 21 – so well that there are inquiries from all over the world.

We talked in the Home Office on the day that the Government was defeated on provisions in the Terrorism Bill for the detention of suspects without charge.Looking at the bill generally,Ms Blears argues that it is necessary to strengthen “the powers to give the police the tools to do the job”.

For her,the key,and under-discussed,section of the bill is the new power against acts preparatory to committing terrorism.The creation of this new offence gives powers to tackle conspiracies at an early stage.It is “quite strange that this had not featured in the debate”.She notes that suicide bombers give no warnings and the police have to intervene earlier.

She points to the big expansion in the capacity of the security services,with an increase in staff from 1,800 to 3,000,to aid both intelligence gathering and penetration of communities where suspected terrorists are likely to live.

Ms Blears also stresses the Government’s attempt to engage and encourage moderate leaders in Muslim communities,to foster good community relations.

More generally,she sounds an upbeat note on crime and anti-social behaviour trends.She points to a decline in all crime in London of four per cent in the latest figures but acknowledges that,despite the reduction in recorded crime,there is still a long way to go in improving detection rates.

She lists a series of government initiatives to tackle public concern over violent crime and anti-social

...she goes out of her way to praise the City Police as an example of cross police authority co-operation since it is responsible for handling fraud and white-collar crime across the whole of the south-east. “We want to learn from the City’s experience in developing co-operation in other areas.”

C I T Y V I E W

Ms Blears believes that policing plans have to be supplemented by new initiatives to strengthen local communities.The new Community Safety Plans involve actions across Government,so that anti-crime initiatives are linked with the work of other departments.Strong communities,she says,will themselves exert pressure against anti-social behaviour by youngsters and others,thus reducing the level of crime and vandalism.

She points to an initiative in Bexley where the police and the local council have reorganised and decentralised their response teams to a neighbourhood level.This has not only reduced crime but has also produced an increase in the number of new special constables.

Ms Blears is currently involved in an issue of direct concern to the City:a review of police authorities, including the City of London Police.At present,this review is still at a consultative stage,but there are fears in the City that the independence of its longestablished police force might be circumscribed.A number of smaller forces outside London are likely to be merged.

Ms Blears is non-committal,but she goes out of her way to praise the City Police as an example of cross police authority co-operation since it is responsible for handling fraud and white-collar crime across the whole of the south-east.“We want to learn from the City’s experience in developing co-operation in other areas,�she says.Her emphasis is on ideas being put forward by police authorities:a re-arrangement of business,primarily greater co-operation than just on changing structures.

Some tense negotiations lie ahead but Ms Blears has been the first to emphasise the contribution of the City police to combating terrorism and protecting businesses in the Square Mile. behaviour.For instance,300 areas now have their own dedicated police team of a sergeant,two constables and three community support officers.

Further legislation is planned in the current session of parliament.For instance,the Violent Crime Reduction Bill will allow the closure of licensed premises which persistently allow drinking by people under 16, tougher action against the use of realistic imitation guns,and an increase to 18 in the age when people can buy knives.

Peter Riddell is political commentator for The Times.

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6 C I T Y V I E W

C I T Y

S E C U R I T Y

judging the threat With its world-wide business and financial profile, the City has always faced some degree of terrorist risk, so counter-terrorist policing has been a priority for the City of London Police for many years. Following the events of 7 July, protecting the City from would-be attackers has taken on even greater significance.

Over the years the City has learned to adapt,with vigilance being key and protective measures familiar sights.The ‘ring of steel’,with licence plate recognition and CCTV,has ensured the City is not a soft target,but there is often no substitute for informed ‘eyes and ears’.

It would be fair to say that Londoners have a heightened awareness of terrorist activity,but they still need to know what to look out for. The City Police had already introduced a range of services and initiatives to raise awareness,prior to July.These proved invaluable in the aftermath of the attacks in keeping businesses up-to-date about events.

An example is the pager alert scheme,which provides key business personnel with urgent information about terrorist activity and suspects. This allows the Force to broadcast text messages simultaneously to 2,000+ subscribers instantly. The E-Mail Messaging Scheme complements this and allows the police to provide information to,or ask for assistance from,the community on policing matters.

Project Griffin has proven a considerable success in increasing awareness among private security companies.This comprises an awareness day and a weekly bridge call about live security and crime matters,reaching more than half a million employees.

In return,companies commit to providing cordon support if there is a major incident.This project is now being rolled out in other major UK cities.

At a briefing on security issues held with senior business representatives after July’s events,the Corporation’s Chairman of Policy & Resources, Michael Snyder,reinforced the importance of a joint approach to terrorism.“This is a matter for the whole community.We are all affected and we all have a role

to play.This is particularly true of business.In the City we have long recognised the importance of a close working relationship between the public and private sectors in this and many other matters.”

Small and medium sized businesses are being encouraged to adopt contingency and continuity plans while larger businesses are being asked to ensure theirs are fit for purpose.The Corporation’s Security & Contingency Planning department works with the police,and alongside the Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership,and can help advise businesses on security measures.

But in the public’s mind,there is no substitute for high visibility policing.Since 7 July City residents,visitors and workers will have noticed,particularly at rail stations,an enhanced police presence which is reviewed in light of current intelligence about the level of perceived threat.

More information

James Hart,Commissioner of Police for the City, believes that total security can never be guaranteed “but we are committed to making sure that the City continues to thrive.

“We want the public to let us know if they have any suspicions.We don’t mind if it proves to be a false alarm.

Vigilance is one of the best ways of preventing and detecting crime, including terrorist crime.

We firmly believe that communities defeat terrorism.”

www.cityoflondon.police.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ contingencyplanning

C I T Y V I E W

G U I L D H A L L

A R T

G A L L E R Y

sign of the times

A complete set of Lord Nelson’s seven signatures, marking key stages in his life, is on public display for the first time at Guildhall Art Gallery.

Nelson changed his signature several times following key moments in his life, the most notable being losing his right arm in 1797.The signatures form part of a unique new exhibition created by Lloyd’s, the world’s leading specialist insurance market, to celebrate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and includes important Nelson artefacts which provide a new insight into Nelson and the world in which he lived.

This is the latest exhibition to go on display at the Guildhall Art Gallery whose collection now comprises more than 4,000 works of art ranging from portraits of kings and queens to depictions of

important naval battles, from period views of historic London to the work of contemporary artists.

The centrepiece of the Gallery is Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar by John Singleton Copley (above) which spans two floors of the Gallery.The collection also includes views of London life from the 17th Century to the present,Victorian paintings and sculpture and the studio collection of Sir Matthew Smith.

In the 1960s and 1970s many contemporary pictures were purchased through the Lord Mayor’s Art Award exhibitions as well as from other sources.

Since then particular interest has been shown in acquiring pictures by younger artists living and working in London.

Another major attraction for

bottom of four archaeological

visitors lies beneath the Gallery –

investigation trenches. The

the remains of Roman London’s

findings were instantly famous

More information 020 7332 3700

Amphitheatre, which

and the site became a protected

guildhall.artgallery@corpoflondon.gov.uk

archaeologists discovered in

monument. Visitors can now

www.guildhall-art-gallery.org.uk

1988. The amphitheatre was

view the arena for the first time in

Admission to the Gallery and Amphitheatre

revealed when short stretches of

nearly 2,000 years with evocative

is £2.50 for adults and £1 for concessions but is free

Roman wall were observed at the

light and sound effects.

on Fridays and after 3.30pm on all other days.

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L O R D

M A Y O R ’ S

S H O W

show time!

Good weather, good crowds –

notably the Hong Kong Economic and

what else can you ask for the Lord

Trade Office, Treloar Trust and

Mayor’s Show?

Cornwall Enterprise Company – to help celebrate the grand occasion.

Alderman David Brewer was given the best start possible for his year of

As usual a lot of imagination and effort

office as thousands of onlookers

had gone into the floats, particularly

welcomed him in his new role. The

the Corporation-sponsored

Show is held to celebrate the Lord

community floats. To highlight

Mayor travelling to the Royal

awareness of its involvement in

Courts of Justice to take the oath of

regenerating the City’s fringes, the

allegiance to the Crown but these

Corporation sponsored five floats – the

days has become a celebration of the

Montage Theatre Company, the E1

diverse and dynamic nature of the

City Partnership, Thames Gateway

City itself.

Youth Football Project, Sound Radio

Thérèse the Camel (representing the

the Lord Mayor the Show went on

and the Tower Hamlets Education

Merchant Taylors’ Company) did get

with the trip to the Royal Courts, the

Business Partnership and Sitar Fusion.

the hump!

return journey to Mansion House

both ancient and modern were all on

And working with children and

As well as covering the event at

the spectacular fireworks display on

show to delight the crowds. They

animals proved no hardship as the

Mansion House, this year the BBC

the Thames.

were joined by those specifically

many dance and acrobatic displays

rounded off their programme with the

related to the current Lord Mayor –

went off without a hitch although

blessing at St Paul’s Cathedral. But for

Marching bands, military displays,

and rounded the day off by viewing

music, dance and livery companies

Roll on next year!

The 678th Lord Mayor of the City of London Lord Mayor Alderman David

Asia Capital plc. He is married to

It was established by Sir William

financial and business centre.

Brewer is a senior consultant,

Tessa and they have two

Treloar who was Lord Mayor in

Much of his year is spent abroad

Asia, for International Financial

daughters, Olivia and Gabriella.

1906. As well as being the head of

raising awareness of the City’s

Services, London, as well as

His charity is the Treloar Trust

the Corporation of London, the

expertise, boosting trade and

being a consultant for March Inc

which has been changing the

Lord Mayor is an ambassador for

given Alderman Brewer’s

(Asia-Pacific region) and a

lives of physically disabled young

the City – promoting it as the

expertise in Asia will include two

non-executive director of London

people for almost 100 years.

world’s leading international

visits to China.

More information, including a biography of the Lord Mayor 020 7332 3099 pro@corpoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lordmayor

10 C I T Y V I E W

L O N D O N

2 0 1 2

The Games just

got serious

Key activities 2005 onwards site preparation November 2005 procurement process begins for main stadium 2006 work begins on aquatic centre 2007 work begins on three western arenas and athletes’ village Summer 2008 work begins on main stadium

The announcement in July that London had won its bid to stage the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games represented the accomplishment of several years’ work – both in front of and behind the scenes – by organisers London 2012 and also by partner organisations including the Corporation of London. July’s shared jubilation at the decision has now changed to a focus on the challenges ahead to prepare for the Olympics and the potential benefits the Games will bring for years to come.

The Corporation of London was one of the first to ‘Back the Bid’.As well as pledging its own financial support, it was responsible for assembling the City Partners consortium, one element of London 2012’s corporate supporter scheme.The consortium was the result of a series of events and briefings by top Corporation representatives, including the Lord Mayor and Chairman of Policy & Resources Michael Snyder, with major City businesses to persuade them of the benefits the Games would bring to the

capital. British Land, Euronext, Heron International, Legal & General and UBS, among others, signed up to the consortium which gave more than £1m to the bid as a combination of cash and products and services ‘in kind’.

Much of the exact detail of how the City and the wider country will benefit from the Games is not yet known.

Up until now the focus has been on new investment in London and how the ‘ripple’effect would continue long after the Games.But this has certainly been borne out in cities that have hosted the Games in the recent past.The 2004 Olympics in Greece brought 65,000 new jobs and an extra €1.22bn of public sector revenue to Athens.Likewise for the Games in Sydney,New South Wales businesses won the equivalent of about £400m in contracts,with over £115m for regional companies and 55,000 people receiving employment related training.

Manchester’s recent experience, hosting the Commonwealth Games, also proved that such events boost a city’s reputation and can prove to be an additional attraction for people and companies to locate there.

Industries such as construction and tourism will be the most obvious to benefit from the Games but others including manufacturing, retailing, sports, environment, IT and marketing will also be likely to gain and this will have a major impact on local employment and training.

C I T Y V I E W

Certainly from the Corporation’s point of view, the £17bn promised investment in London’s transport infrastructure can only benefit the City. In survey after survey, business people throughout London have identified transport as their single biggest concern.With the expected growth in the City’s population in the future (estimated at an extra 70,000 in the next decade), this investment comes at an ideal time.Already the go-ahead has been given for the East London Line extension, an upgrade and extension to the Docklands Light Railway and increased capacity for the Jubilee Line.

This investment will ensure that London 2012 keeps its promise of 10 rail lines and three stations serving the Olympic park at Stratford and being able to transport 240,000 people an hour by 2010.The 12 carriage Olympic Javelin, capable of speeds up to 225km per hour, will link the Park with King’s Cross St Pancras in just seven minutes.And although not directly linked to the Games, the Corporation is hopeful that construction will also begin on the long-delayed Crossrail project which is equally crucial to the capital’s future prosperity.

The investment in East London that the Games will bring, also ties in with a major objective for the Corporation – that of regenerating the City fringe. For many years the Corporation has been working in partnership with surrounding London boroughs, home to some of the poorest communities in the country, to help bring about lasting social, economic

and physical regeneration.This has involved support across several main themes such as education, training and employment, transport, environment, community development and involving the City.

This investment is mutually beneficial because the City relies on the availability of skilled labour, a strong business base to supply its goods and services, a safe and attractive local environment and a reliable local transport system.The London 2012 bid also highlighted the importance of smaller and medium sized company involvement – another strand of the Corporation’s partnership programmes.

Computer images from the London 2012 website showing where the main Olympic sites will be and what they will look like.

Establishing a lasting legacy – locally, nationally and internationally – was a key selling point for the London bid. In its submission London 2012 spelt out its aim to achieve four main legacy benefits ■ to leave behind world-class sports facilities which meet a clearly defined sporting need and become the heart of existing communities ■ to enhance the opportunities and support available to Britain's competitors across the range of Olympic and Paralympic sports ■ to drive the regeneration of the east of London, delivering a high-quality environment for business and opportunities for local people ■ and to create a major new urban park – the biggest created in Europe in 150 years.

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has now been established and work has begun to organise, publicise and stage the 2012 Games. In addition, a separate organisation, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will soon be formed to manage the public money spent on venues and infrastructure.

All of which looks to make it a very busy time for London over the coming years and will have a positive impact on East London and the wider capital before, during and after the Games. And if these areas benefit, the City in turn will prosper.

More information www.london2012.org

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12 C I T Y V I E W

D E V E L O P M E N T

P L A N N I N G

the City never stands still Scaffolding, cordons, cranes, hard hats, Heron Tower, Minerva Tower, Bishopsgate Tower – everywhere in the City there seems to be some form of building work either underway or proposed, leaving the casual observer to wonder what is happening?

There are three main reasons for all this work: a need for more floorspace, older buildings coming to the end of their design life and the natural cycle of development for a modern City that is always changing.

As the Corporation has been arguing in its case for Crossrail, more than 70,000 extra people are expected to come into the City in the next 10 years and they will need suitable workspace.Although City vacancy rates are high at the moment there is an increasing demand for more high quality workspace if the City is to remain competitive and attract the best businesses and clients.

Buildings constructed just after the Second World War have now reached the end of their useful lives.

Today’s buildings need modern facilities such as air conditioning, lower ceilings and proper infrastructure for IT systems. In these circumstances options are to refurbish, to strip the building to its frame and refurbish or demolish it and start again. In many instances the last option is more economic.

But much of the current work is just the product of the City’s ongoing redevelopment. In the past 15 years 40% of the City’s floorspace has been renewed – and not just the older building stock.The former Hamilton House in Appold Street/Exchange Square, near Liverpool Street, is one example of a 1980s building that has been redeveloped recently to provide better floorspace.Then there are other

buildings that have dated badly and do not meet modern needs.

As usual it is the taller buildings that attract the most attention and controversy.The Corporation has given approval for a striking 35 storey tower at 201 Bishopsgate. But an even taller building – the 63 storey DIFA tower in Bishopsgate is due to go to the Planning Committee at the end of the year.With its 307 metre tapering spiral form it would dwarf 30 St Mary Axe (often referred to as the ‘gherkin’) and stake its claim as the tallest building in the City.

1

2

As always in granting planning consent, the Corporation has to balance maximising the City’s potential against any environmental impact while complying with its planning policies. One third of the City is actually conservation area and it also has a very high proportion of Grade I or II* listed buildings which immediately put constraints on the number of tall buildings possible. Other constraints include the Government’s strategic protection of views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Corporation’s own ‘St Paul’s heights’ controls.

3

But people don’t often appreciate that larger developments also offer correspondingly large benefits for the community.This means that the Corporation, as the City’s local planning authority, can get community benefits through its planning obligations policy which will offset the impact of the development. On a project like the Minerva Tower these benefits include a major public square at Aldgate and other street scene projects, social housing, local skills training, and investment in public transport infrastructure.And developers

4

C I T Y V I E W

Images Opposite page: 1 2 3 New Change, 4 The DIFA tower, This page: 5 Moorhouse, 6 Exchange Square, 7 51 Lime Street, 8 201 Bishopsgate

themselves these days are realising the need to invest heavily in public spaces around new buildings to make the general environment more inviting for tenants and workers.

5

But taller buildings are not always the solution. For example, the recent Marks & Spencer’s building at 168 Fenchurch Street replaced a tall building with a lower one that fits into the street character.Another tower was successfully replaced by a lower building in the Deutsche Bank building on London Wall.

6

The Corporation’s main criteria in deciding for or against a project is always quality and distinctiveness. But of course there remains the matter of taste – what is iconic to one person is an eyesore to another.The Barbican Estate is a classic example. Considered controversal when first built, in 2001 it gained Listed Building status and it has maintained its cachet as an especially desirable place to live.

The Lloyd’s building in Leadenhall Street was always designed to be iconic and stimulate discussion about its design and appearance, but has now become a recognised part of the City’s landscape.

Similarly 30 St Mary Axe also seems to have become accepted, in a short period of time, despite being so close and in direct contrast with St Helen’s, Bishopsgate.This also illustrates another of the Corporation’s deciding factors – distinctive design that works in its local context, in other words buildings that look like they are a part of the City even if they are iconic.

Jean Nouvel’s striking design for the proposed retail and office development of New Change, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, could well become another iconic building.Two pedestrian routes will cross the site, meeting at a central public space.The mainly glass buildings contain a mixture of shops on three levels, offices on the upper floors and a large public roof terrace providing clear views of the cathedral and the City’s landscape.This project has been driven by demand from the City for more and better shops to make the overall environment more inviting.

Not all of the forthcoming changes in the City are to do with buildings.The Corporation has an ongoing programme of improvements under its Street Scene Challenge initiative. One of its major projects for the future is the riverside walk enhancement strategy which aims to create a high quality walk on the north side of the Thames, extending from Victoria Embankment to Tower Pier.The work will involve paving, surface materials, accessibility, seating and street furniture, lighting and planting and biodiversity.

8

Although the sheer pace of current activity may die down in time, because of the very nature of the City there are always likely to be new buildings 7 being constructed.Among them are ones that may not be to everyone’s taste but, as far as the Corporation is concerned, should continue to remain distinctive and in keeping with their surroundings.

More information www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/our_services/ development_planning

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14 C I T Y V I E W

A R T S

F O C U S

snowy backdrop Tintin – the world’s most famous

Tintin in Tibet – the 20th in the

Thomsons and Cuthbert Calculus.

boy reporter – is stepping out of

series – was unusual in not

Each year more than three

his comic books and onto the

containing a villain but instead was

million copies of Tintin’s stories

stage in a world premiere

a story of friendship, loyalty and

are sold across 50 countries in

production at the Barbican this

love. Tintin was created by the

40 different languages.

Christmas.

world renowned Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, better known as

This new production is director by

The production is based on the

Hergé, and this story was his most

Young Vic associate director Rufus

story Tintin in Tibet published in

personal and favourite work

Norris, whose last production at the

1960 and follows his quest to save

“because this is the story in which

Young Vic was his acclaimed

his good friend Chang who is

I invested myself most”.

production of Sleeping Beauty, and

stranded in the Himalayas, the

co-written with David Greig.

home of the Abominable

Tintin first appeared in 1929 and

Snowman. Tintin is accompanied

has become a modern icon with his

Sure to be enjoyed by the whole family, Tintin begins the Young Vic’s

More information

on his adventure by his regular

trademark crested quiff and plus-

Walkabout season on 29 November

www.younggenius.org

sidekicks – the irascible sea dog

four trousers. Along with Snowy

and runs until 21 January 2006.

0845 120 7511

Captain Haddock and his faithful

and Captain Haddock, the series

www.barbican.org.uk

dog companion Snowy.

also saw the creation of the

C I T Y V I E W

A R T S

F O C U S

timeline More than 1,000 years of the

anarchy took over as the general

capital’s history are now on

administration system broke down

display in a major new gallery at

and trading collapsed, leaving the

the Museum of London.

City a ghost town.

Medieval London tells the story of

2. Alfred the Great

London from the end of Roman rule

refounds London

in AD410 to the accession of

“London slowly built up again over

Elizabeth 1 in 1558 and includes

the following years and by the

more than 1,500 objects.

seventh century was a major trading centre again. But at this

“Most people have set ideas about

time it was based in Covent

certain events in the Middle Ages

Garden. However, increasing

techniques also meant

but don’t know the chronology

attacks from Vikings meant that

unprecedented access to wider

which links them,” explained

people were encouraged to fall

thinking with book shops becoming

curator Hedley Swain. “We decided

back within the still standing

the equivalent of internet cafés!”

that in order to give people the

Roman walls which offered greater

wider picture, we would structure

protection and in 886 Alfred

The design of the new gallery

the gallery around four events that

ordered the refounding of London

also caters for different

changed London in a huge way.

in its present location.

audiences. “We’ve

Large panels on each event begin

deliberately structured the

the different sections in the gallery

3. The Black Death

gallery to extract and

and then within those sections we

“It’s hard to think of a modern

highlight the key

let people discover what happened

parallel to the Black Death given

information so that

in the intervening years. The four

that 50% of the population died

even visitors with

events are

from it. It sprung up so quickly and

little time can take

became so widespread that leaving

them in. At the

1. The Romans leave

London didn’t offer any escape. In

same time there

“Although today we tend to see

certain ways it was actually a

is a hierarchy of

society as always moving forward

positive thing. It contributed to the

information so

and life improving, AD410 actually

end of feudalism by creating labour

that those with

saw things go backwards! When

shortages and therefore wage

more time can

the Romans abandoned London,

rises. It also had a great

take in the

psychological effect on the

wealth of

population leading many to

medieval

re-embrace the Church but led

events and

just as many to question the

activities for all

Church’s dominance.

ages (including talks, crafts,

4. The Reformation/

jugglers, and

Dissolution of the monasteries

medieval food

“Until this period the social and

preparation).”

economic influence of the Church was unchallenged in society. With the closure of the monasteries and the seizure of church land, the state and private enterprise had to step in and fill gaps such as education and

More information 0870 444 3851

health provision. New printing

www.museumoflondon.org.uk

15

16 C I T Y V I E W

N E W S

I N

B R I E F

...and finally Keeping the City on the move With transport always high on the City agenda, Transport for London Commissioner Bob Kiley was invited

the London Plan, London

Annual achievement

to Guildhall in November for talks

Underground and other rail issues

with Corporation representatives

and the congestion charge.

The third annual stakeholder event for

This was followed by a tour of the

between the Corporation, other key

including Policy & Resources Chairman Michael Snyder and

The City Together, a partnership

Planning and Transportation

main City transport hubs such as

service providers and the City’s

Snyder, and workshops to discuss

Chairman John Owen-Ward.

Moorgate, Liverpool Street,

communities, will take place on

key service areas. If people are

Southwark Bridgehead and

Monday 6 February 2006 in the

unable to attend the evening session

Issues under discussion included

Blackfriars Station.

Guildhall from 5.30 - 8.30pm.

they will be able to view the stands

There will be several displays to

on the day. Places are available on a

at Guildhall between 12pm and 2pm

Capital present ideas For anyone short of ideas on what

Library Bookshop or the Museum of

to buy friends or family for

London. Both stock a huge number

promote current services and new

first come first served basis from

initiatives in the City, a formal

pro.events@corpoflondon.gov.uk or

presentation by Chairman Michael

020 7332 3176

Christmas, the City has shops to

of items that cover every area of the

suit every taste and other venues

City and its life in books, DVDs,

offering City-related merchandise.

posters and food.

From 1 January next year the

simpler and clearer communication

For a distinctive Christmas shopping

And for those with an eye for art,

Corporation will be strengthening its

is needed.

experience, Leadenhall Market has

Guildhall Art Gallery can offer more

ability to support and promote the

Putting the City first

a range of stores to choose from

than 20,000 images on its Collage

Square Mile. It will be altering the

The organisation is still known by a

with plenty of eating and drinking

database from which to order prints.

emphasis it gives to “City” in its title

number of different designations

so that it is immediately much

and the new year will also be the

More information

clearer on whose behalf it operates.

chance to get greater consistency

areas in which to take a break!

For a London or City-themed present why not try the Guildhall

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

From 1 January the full name of the

in the way the identity is represented,

organisation will be the City of

which in turn will promote a

London Corporation but on a

better understanding of what the

day-to-day basis will be known as

organisation does.

the City of London.

This will not be an overnight For some time now it has been clear

commercial re-branding exercise – it

that not enough people understand

will be implemented gradually on a

what “Corporation” means. It was

cost-neutral basis. It will not distract

felt that this was not an effective

from the organisation's work to

way of describing the unique range

support the Square Mile and London as

of services the organisation

a whole – and will make it easier to do.

provides, nor does it connect with the international financial services

For many of its audiences it already is

industry that is its prime audience.

“the City” and it is believed that this

With an office now in Brussels and

rationalisation will provide great unity

representations in China it is

and strength for the future by quite

becoming ever more apparent that

literally putting the City first.