Developers will have to modify designs deemed likely to affect cyclists and pedestrians
Adelina AdjeiTue 20 Aug 2019 00.01 BST
Tougher building rules for skyscrapers have been drawn up by the City of London because of concerns that a high-rise, urban microclimate will generate winds capable of knocking over cyclists and pedestrians.
Developers will have to provide more comprehensive safety assessments of how proposed buildings will affect people on street level, with more robust testing of roadways and pavements using detailed scale models in wind tunnels and computer simulations.
The City will also reduce the level of wind conditions deemed tolerable under the rules, reclassifying average speeds of more than 8 metres per second (18mph) as “uncomfortable” in all circumstances and forcing developers to mitigate plans if designs are shown as likely to affect cyclists and pedestrians.
A host of skyscrapers have joined the London skyline in recent years, with a particular cluster in the City, including the Leadenhall Building, known locally as the “Cheesegrater”, and the “Walkie-Talkie” at 20 Fenchurch Street. Another 13 skyscrapers, ranging from 78-305 metres tall, are expected by 2026, with six under construction and another seven having received planning consent from the City of London.
City of London tightens rules on skyscrapers over wind tunnel fears | The Guardian
Developers will have to modify designs deemed likely to affect cyclists and pedestrians Adelina AdjeiTue 20 Aug 2019 00.01 BST Tougher building rules for skyscrapers have been drawn up by the City of London because of concerns that a high-rise, urban microclimate will generate winds capable of knocking over cyclists and pedestrians. Developers will have… [Read More]
