Bevis Marks synagogue and planning law

The Grade I listed Bevis Marks synagogue opened in 1701 and was the first synagogue to be built following the resettlement of Jews in England in the second half of the 17th Century. The building relies mainly on daylight and candlelight for internal illumination, and there has been a continuing controversy about plans to build a tower block next to it. A previous application for a 48-storey office block was rejected in 2021 after an independent review concluded that the plans for the tower block would result in “a significant reduction in sunlight”. Continue reading →