Features
UK Politicians Buy More Time To Consider MSG Sphere London
AEG Europe has requested that MP Michael Gove, secretary of the UK government’s department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, call in the planning application for the MSG Sphere London, which had received planning approval last year.
See: AEG To Scrutinize MSG Sphere London Planning Application ‘Very Carefully’
The department’s press office told Pollstar that a holding direction restricting the grant of permission has been issued to allow the secretary time to consider this request.
The issuing of a holding direction should not to be taken as an indication as to whether an application will be called in or not. A decision will be made as soon as possible.
As usual, the government won’t comment any further, seeing that it considers it inappropriate to comment on the merits of proposals which may come before ministers in the future.
The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which handles MSG Sphere London’s planning application, has to now wait until the secretary has made a decision on whether he wants to call in the application.
As previously reported, AEG Europe claims that the LLDC’s decision-making process has been seriously flawed.
See: MSG Sphere London Planning Application To Be Heard Next Week, AEG Concerns Addressed
LLDC says “Procedurally there are no changes in the planning process until the Secretary of State reaches a decision. The applications will still be referred to the Mayor of London for a stage II direction.”