Letter from the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
As this copy is quite unclear the text is reprinted below.
Swiss Re (formerly the Baltic Exchange)
Earlier today Lord Foster and representatives of Swiss Re showed me their proposals for the redevelopment of the Former Baltic Exchange building in the city of London. This (and the briefings I have received from former LPAC staff) confirmed my opinion that the proposal is for the type and quantity of high quality office floorspace that the city needs in order to maintain and enhance its position as a world city, and to enable its international role in the business and financial sectors to flourish. Any undue delay in the planning process could jeopardise Swiss Re's presence in London.
The meeting also confirmed that the quality of design is of the highest order. Whilst it is regrettable that a building of the quality of the Baltic Exchange was damaged, the benefits of a restoration as part of a general redevelopment scheme are far outweighed by the benefits of Lord Foster's proposal.
I therefore urge you to lift the Article 14 direction, so that on the 20th July the Court of Common Council can consider the City Corporations Planning committee's recommendation that the Foster proposal be granted planning permission. It certainly has my full support.