The London mayor prevented the construction of the Tulip skyscraper

London - London Mayor Sadiq Khan today prevented the issuance of a construction permit for a skyscraper that was to become the second tallest building in the British capital. This was reported by the Reuters agency, citing his spokesman. According to Khan, the project for the building with an observation deck, nicknamed the Tulip, would provide only a small benefit to the public and would disrupt the city's skyline.

"The mayor has a number of serious objections to this application and after studying it in detail, he refused to grant permission for a project that he believes would have very limited public benefit," said the spokesman for the London mayor. According to him, Khan also does not consider the architectural design to be of sufficient quality for such a significant location in the city center and believes that the skyscraper would damage the skyline of London and obstruct views of the nearby Tower royal palace.

The skyscraper, designed by the studio of renowned architect Norman Foster, was to be the second tallest building in Western Europe. The only taller building upon completion would be the nearby tower structure known as the Shard. Construction of the Tulip was set to start next year and was to be completed in 2025.

The developer who wanted to build the Tulip in London has already expressed disappointment with the mayor's decision. However, he refused to disclose how the project would be handled going forward. Conversely, the group Historic England (HE), which has long criticized the project, expressed joy that the skyscraper did not receive a building permit. In a statement, it said that the Tulip would essentially be "a tall lift shaft with a bulge on top."