High plans for DVD and CD-Rom

Development: Planning inquiry uses technology to show impact of 'Heron Tower'

Innovative CD-Rom and DVD technology has been used in a planning inquiry for the first time to produce images of a proposed development and its impact on the London skyline.A verdict is expected in the summer following the inquiry into permission for the 'Heron Tower', a 222-metre (730 feet) high office development near St Paul's Cathedral which, if permission is granted, would be the tallest skyscraper in the Square Mile.

It concluded after two months in December last year.City firm Linklaters advised Heron Corporation on the application and inquiry.

Ray Jackson, head of environmental law at Linklaters and the partner in charge of the inquiry team, said: 'We developed a DVD which showed the views from Waterloo bridge with the proposed tower superimposed on the skyline.'Still photographs were then taken from vantage points on the bridge and digitally combined to create a DVD showing a 360-degree view from the bridge.

'It was important to get an overall idea of what the London skyline would look like with the tower,' said Mr Jackson.

'Not just in the east near St Paul's but a full round view incorporating the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.'The team then employed a film crew to film the walk across Waterloo bridge with the camera at head height to ascertain the impact the development would have on the average person's sightline.

A CD-Rom was also produced which placed the user on the terrace of Somerset House - on the north riverbank by Waterloo bridge - giving a view up and down the river, with the tower superimposed, allowing users to zoom in on any area shown.

The building itself was brought to life by a CD-Rom of animation produced from a combination of the architect's sketches and photographs.

Viewers were able to travel up and down the building and look at the views from the top floor.All the CD-Roms and DVDs were shown at the inquiry on individual monitors as well as a central screen.

Mr Jackson said: 'Previously, large-scale planning inquiries have used photographs and sketches to reproduce the eventual building and its impact on the environment, which makes it very difficult properly to comprehend the impact a building will have on the environment.' Describing the technology as 'extremely helpful for everyone involved', he predicted that in large-scale and sensitive planning inquiries such as Heron, such technology would 'become the norm'.

Victoria MacCallum