Michael Gove temporarily halts progress on MSG Sphere venue in Stratford

In March last year the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) approved plans for the 90m-tall Sphere venue - backed by Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) - which was planned to be located next to Westfield Stratford City and have a capacity of 21,000. Last month the LLDC approved advertising on the venue's exterior (although the plans were still yet to be approved by London mayor Sadiq Khan), which would be completely covered in triangular LED panels, and it resulted in backlash from residents, opposition groups and AEG, the owners of The O2.

Architects' Journal reports that Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), issued an Article 31 holding directive, which temporarily blocks the LLDC and the mayor of London from signing off proposals for the venue, and also gives Gove the chance to call in the plans under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Music Week reports that Alistair Wood, executive VP real estate and development at AEG Europe, said: "More than a decade after the Olympic Games, the LLDC’s planning decision process is now at odds with the views of the communities that it was set up to support and develop.

"With the LLDC due to be disbanded at the end of next year, it would be democratic for the government to intervene and back the wishes of elected councils in east London who want this inappropriate development blocked to protect the wellbeing of local people and existing businesses.

"Since these proposals first emerged back in 2017, AEG has consistently raised its objections to the unacceptable impact that this proposal will have on the operation of The O2 and the hundreds of residents who will be even more directly affected."

An MSG Sphere London spokesperson said: "MSG is pleased with the progress our planning application is making. We always expected the government to take the opportunity to review our application for MSG Sphere London and their formal notice has absolutely no impact on our plans in any way. MSG Sphere will bring unique entertainment experiences to London and deliver many cultural and economic benefits, including creating thousands of jobs and generating billions of pounds for the local, London and UK economy."