MSG Sphere London Planning Application To Be Heard Next Week, AEG Concerns Addressed

Ahead of decision day, officers of the London Legacy Development Committee (LLDC) released a report, published today, March 15, recommending the application’s approval. The report also addresses objections to and approval for the MSG Sphere project. 

Reoccurring themes in support, according to the report, are the Sphere’s distinctive contribution to the Stratford skyline, improved connectivity, the creation of jobs increased visitor attraction. Reoccurring themes in opposition to the development are a lack of need, its scale, its impact on public transport as well as the impact of the large LED surface resulting from the building’s unique design on residential amenity.

AEG is among the 852 entities (individuals, community groups, interested

parties) opposing the MSG Sphere. The live entertainment giant, which operates one of the of busiest venues in the world in London’s O2, while not opposed to competition from another large venue in the city, maintains that Stratford is “the wrong location.”

Amongst AEG’s concerns are effects on public transport, particularly the Jubilee Line, which would be shared by both the O2 and the Sphere. It states that “MSG Sphere crowds will depart Stratford heading west at the same time as visitors departing from events at The O2 (and in worst-case scenarios from London Stadium events as well). This would leave no capacity on the trains at North Greenwich for the arena’s visitors, leading to transport chaos and the risk of visitors missing onward connections home and becoming stranded.”

As the LLDC officers write in today’s report effects on transport, even in “worst case scenarios” where the Sphere, London Stadium, and the O2 are running events simultaneously, “will be suitable mitigated.” Joint planning with London Stadium; restrictions on event timing or capacity when conflicts could occur; commitments to additional station staffing and, when necessary, staffing to help manage stadium egress; the delivery of a new [Stratford] station entrance; operational controls are listed by the report as mitigating the impact of the Sphere development on public transport infrastructure.

The report admits that some windows would be “completely obscured by the Sphere media plane,” but adds that “the extent to which the conditions created by the proposed development would be ‘significant adverse’ is a matter of professional judgement. Visibility and/or change to outlook does not in itself equate to harm.” The reviewing officers weren’t persuaded by AEG’s RVAA, which “equates the loss of views with harm.”

Taking into account the proposed controls which limit luminance, the hours of operation and flicker, LLDS’s officers are “satisfied that – regardless of the detail of the digital content – the risk of harm to residential visual amenity has been reduced to an acceptable level.”

AEG also laments the fact that the LLDC is the decision maker, not Newham Council, which formed part of a “broad coalition in opposition” to the building.

If the planning application is approved next week, it will still need to go through the Mayor of London’s office before a final legal agreement can be granted. 

A spokesperson for AEG commented, “We are calling on the LLDC to refuse MSG’s application for a new venue in Stratford and encourage the Mayor of London to formally oppose this project in order to protect Newham’s residents and existing businesses from this inappropriate development.

“AEG have always maintained we do not oppose competition in the live entertainment sector, or another large music venue in London, but it should not be built so close to The London Stadium, Copper Box, Westfield and The O2.

“It is imperative that it does not add to congestion or overcrowding in this area of the city, or on the public transport network, especially the Jubilee line which is critical for the movement of guests to and from The O2. We believe that MSG’s scheme is fundamentally the wrong proposal, in the wrong location, and is technically seriously flawed. 

“MSG have taken their original concept developed for downtown Las Vegas and transposed it directly onto a tight and constrained site overlooked by hundreds of residential properties in Stratford.”

The LLDC report acknowledges the uncertainties that come with an unprecedented development such as the MSG Sphere. The project will require on-going monitoring, also with regard to the impacts on the rail network. “Should unexpected adverse impacts occur either outside or within the station, further measures or controls would be required,” it states.

The report’s “overall conclusion” is that the development complies with most policies in the development plan. The few policies it doesn’t comply with  don’t endanger the projects compliance with the development plan when it is considered as a whole. What is more, according to the report, “the significant public benefits of the proposed development justify granting planning permission notwithstanding any such non-compliance with the development plan as a whole.”