BEAUTIES OF LONDON

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 77, 13 March 1934, Page 7

BEAUTIES OF LONDON

Preserving Fine Scenes HIGH BUILDINGS SPOIL VIEWS British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 10. The tendency to erect higher buildings in London is criticised in the report of the Royal Fine Art Commission which by Royal warrant last year was empowered to call attention to any project or development which in its opinion might appear to affect the amenities of a national or public char- > acter. I The commission states that the j effect of some of these tall buildings ; upon other place® of national and historic interest has in many cases been detrimental. In particular it refers to buildings recently erected in the neighbourhood of St. Paul’s Cathedral, com- . plete views of which have been disasI trously blocked. ' The maximum height of buildings ! authorised in London has recently been increased to 100 feet. The commission points out that this increase in height is a concession of which the money value is often great, and suggests that any such concession should be accompanied by some advantage to the public of light or air or of amentiy by surrendering the frontage for road-widen-ing, or by setting back the faces of buildings in order to provide a wider angle of light.