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The owner of the skyscraper, designed by famous British architect Foster + Partners, has launched a lawsuit over one of London’s biggest developments, saying that the 36-storey tower would interfere with the light.
The Kuwait Sovereign Wealth Fund, which owns the freehold of Willisville, in the heart of London’s financial district, is filing a lawsuit by AXA Investment Managers against a development plan near 50 Fenchurch Street.
The High Court case is the latest dispute arising from most of the local projects that changed the city’s skyline.
Willisville, the headquarters of insurance broker Willis Towers Watson, was an impressive addition when it was completed in 2008. Foster + Partner founded by Norman Foster Lord, the Foster + Partner has been awarded the Architecture Award for Buildings, which is intended to resemble the shells of crustaceans.
But it has been covered in a series of large buildings. Developments since completion include “Cheesegrater” at 122 Leadenhall Street, “Walkie-Talkie” at 20 Fenchurch Street, and 22 Bishopsgate.
The “step” design of Willis’ building is intended to resemble crustacean shells
The lawsuit was filed by a UK Real Estate Investment Vehicle in Kuwait against a special purpose vehicle managed by Axa IM, which has held a long-time leasehold entitled at 50 Fenchurch Street.
In a lawsuit filed in November but not previously reported, the claimant argues that the plan’s permission has already been secured for development, but that the plan hinders its right to light.
Legal claims state that the development “will become a substantial interference in constituting the normal enjoyment and nuisance of Willis’ buildings” through some of the windows that “significantly reduce the light enjoyed by Willis’ buildings.”
The petitioner is seeking an injunction to prevent the development from being completed in a way that infringes these rights. Alternatively, they are requesting unspecified damages.
No defense of the claim has been filed in court yet.
A spokesman for 50 Fenchurch Street said: “We believe that these claims have no merit, but as a policy, we have not commented on potential or ongoing legal proceedings, so we cannot say more.”
The Kuwait Investment Bureau did not respond to a request for comment, but the lawyers for the claimant in the London case declined to comment.
50 Fenchurch Street Development is set to offer approximately 62,000 square meters of flexible office space and new colouring holes for City Livery’ Company, which has occupied the site since 1528.
The plans include a public indoor and outdoor garden and a restaurant on the 10th floor with views of the city.
Other recent conflicts over the development of the area include lines on plans to destroy the old museum in London to make way for new offices.
