The Madison Square Garden (MSG) Sphere in Stratford has been given the go ahead by the local authority’s planning committee, three years after plans went in.
Members of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) Planning Decisions Committee voted through the proposals after a lengthy planning meeting which ran until midnight. Six committee members voted for the proposals with four voting against it.
The approval marks the passing of a major hurdle for the project. However, the final decision will be made by the mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The vote took place in a special public meeting at the London Stadium, last evening (March 22).
The proposal to build a sphere-shaped entertainment venue enveloped in LED light displays was presented to the Planning Decisions Committee, which is the overseeing authority for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Last week, a planning inspector published a report on the plans and recommended it for approval. The inspector, Daniel Davies, also recommended that MSG provide blackout curtains to students and residential properties within 150 metres of the Sphere’s facade, to deal with light spill effects.
US-based entertainment firm MSG had submitted plans for the 21,000-capacity arena in March 2019. Over the past three years, the decision about the project has been delayed several times.
In March 2021, LLDC cited purdah rules and postponed it until after the London mayor elections on 6 May 2021. The date was then pushed to 28 September 2021, but that was cancelled without any public explanation.
Members of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) Planning Decisions Committee voted through the proposals after a lengthy planning meeting which ran until midnight. Six committee members voted for the proposals with four voting against it.
The approval marks the passing of a major hurdle for the project. However, the final decision will be made by the mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The vote took place in a special public meeting at the London Stadium, last evening (March 22).
The proposal to build a sphere-shaped entertainment venue enveloped in LED light displays was presented to the Planning Decisions Committee, which is the overseeing authority for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Last week, a planning inspector published a report on the plans and recommended it for approval. The inspector, Daniel Davies, also recommended that MSG provide blackout curtains to students and residential properties within 150 metres of the Sphere’s facade, to deal with light spill effects.
US-based entertainment firm MSG had submitted plans for the 21,000-capacity arena in March 2019. Over the past three years, the decision about the project has been delayed several times.
In March 2021, LLDC cited purdah rules and postponed it until after the London mayor elections on 6 May 2021. The date was then pushed to 28 September 2021, but that was cancelled without any public explanation.