Most Londoners think tall buildings should only be built in areas like the City and Canary Wharf, and that there should be limits on how high they can be, according to a survey for the Skyline Campaign published today. The findings come after Westminster Council controversially gave the green light for a 30 storey tower to be built in Paddington, and show stark differences in the views of Londoners in the inner and outer boroughs about how this new generation of tall buildings is affecting the Capital.

1. The sky’s the limit?
Londoners’ attitudes to tall buildings

2. 2
How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with London as a city to live in?
73
70
77
14
17
9
Total
Outer London
Inner London
% Satisfied % Dissatisfied
Most Londoners satisfied living in the city
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
Source: Ipsos MORI

3. 3
Which, if any, of the following types of housing do you think is the most suitable for meeting the needs
of Londoners?
1
9
6
7
8
17
21
29
4
4
11
11
13
17
20
15
2
7
8
9
10
17
21
24
Other
More detached houses
More purpose built flats in high-rise blocks (more than 20 storeys)
More semi-detached houses
More converted flats
More purpose built flats in medium-rise blocks (6-20 storeys)
More purpose built flats in low-rise blocks (5 storeys or less)
More terraced houses
Total Inner London Outer London
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
Londoners want terraces, not high-rise
Source: Ipsos MORI

4. 4
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
% Agree
% Disagree
16 19 15
59 62
57
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree with the following statements…..?
There should be more limits placed on
the height of new tall buildings being
built or planned in London
There should be more limits placed on the
number of new very tall buildings with 50 or
more storeys being built or planned in London
17 21
15
59 62 58
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
There should be no limits on the number
of new very tall buildings with 50 or more
storeys being built or planned in London
58
66
53
21 17
23
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
Six out of ten want limits on tall buildings
Source: Ipsos MORI

5. 5
According to the latest research, there are nearly 270 buildings of over 20 storeys currently under construction,
planned or proposed, including 25 that are between 50 and 70 storeys high.
Do you think the number of new tall buildings over 20-storeys currently under construction, planned or proposed is
too much, too little or about right?
39
47
11
3
Too much
About right
Too little
Don’t know
49
34
42
50
5 15
5 2
Inner London Outer London
% About right
% Too much
% Too little
% Don’t know
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
49% in inner London say too many tall buildings
Source: Ipsos MORI

6. 6
New tall buildings are making
a valuable contribution to the
vibrancy of London
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
Thinking about tall buildings in London, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the
following…..?
I am worried that too many
new tall buildings are being
built in London
New tall buildings are
damaging what makes
London special
New tall buildings are
making the skyline of
London look better
% Agree
% Disagree
27
38
20
41
30
47
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
30
39
25
44
34
49
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
37
32
40
37
43
34
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
41 40 41
37
43
33
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
Inner London is most worried about tall buildings
Source: Ipsos MORI

7. 7
15
41
19
18
7
Strongly agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Tend to
disagree
Don’t know
(*%)
Tend to agree
Strongly disagree
To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree that new tall buildings should NOT be allowed to be built anywhere
in London but limited to specific areas only, such as Canary Wharf or the City?
9 6
16 18
14
22
40
41
20
12
Inner London Outer London
60%
Agree
25%
Disagree
53%
Agree
25%
Disagree
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
56% say limit tall buildings to specific areas
Source: Ipsos MORI

8. 8
Source: Ipsos MORI
Which one of these statements comes closest to your view on new developments?
55
47
52
45
50
47
Outer London
Inner London
Total
% New tall buildings should be developed if they raise money for councils to spend on local services
% We should limit the number of new tall buildings to preserve London’s character, even if councils have
less money to spend on services
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318); Don’t know not shown
Divided over using tall buildings to raise cash for councils

9. 9
% Agree
% Disagree
21 22 20
51
60
46
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
36 40
33
42 42 41
Total Inner
London
Outer
London
To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree with the following statements…..?
New tall buildings in London are
mainly for wealthy foreigners
New tall buildings will help to meet the
housing needs of average Londoners
51% say tall buildings for wealthy foreigners
Source: Ipsos MORI
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318); Don’t know not shown

10. 10
Which two or three of these factors, if any, should be given the highest priority by those deciding
whether or not a new tall building should be given planning permission?
Top 5 most commonly stated priorities
28
27
28
32
42
26
29
29
30
59
27
28
28
31
48
Whether it has a good design
What the people living nearby think
Whether it looks right in relation to its surroundings
Whether it provides new job opportunities
Whether it provides affordable new homes
Total Inner London Outer London
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
Affordable housing is key
Source: Ipsos MORI

11. 11
To what extent do you agree or disagree that Londoners should be consulted more over the number of new tall
buildings that are built?
28
45
20
5 2
Strongly agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Tend to disagree
Don’t know
(*%)
Tend to agree
Strongly disagree
4 1
5
5
17 22
40
48
34
24
Inner London Outer London
74%
Agree
8%
Disagree
72%
Agree
6%
Disagree
Want much more consultation
Source: Ipsos MORI
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318); Don’t know not shown

12. 12
Would you be more or less likely to vote for a local
politician or councillor who supported the development
of a new tall building of over 20 storeys where you live,
or would it make no difference?
% Less likely
% More likely
Now thinking about the forthcoming London
Mayoral election. Overall would you be more
favourable or less favourable to a politician who
supported building more tall buildings in London?
% Less
favourable
% More
favourable
% make no
difference / DK
16%
57%
27%
13%
57%
30%
18%
58%
25%
Outer
London
Inner
London
TOTAL
% make no
difference / DK
Outer
London
Inner
London
TOTAL
16%
53%
31%
12%
45%
42%
19%
56%
25%
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318)
Supporting tall buildings turns off more people
Source: Ipsos MORI

13. 13
Opinion divided on new tall buildings locally
Overall, to what extent would you support or oppose the building of a new tall building [similar to one of these] in
your local area, that is around 15-20 minutes’ walk from where you live?
7
30
33
17
14
Strongly support
Neither support
nor oppose
Tend to
oppose
Tend to
support
Strongly oppose
5 8
24
34
37
30
16
17
18
11
Inner London Outer London
29%
Support
34%
Oppose
42%
Support
28%
Oppose
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318); Split sample, questions combined
Source: Ipsos MORI

14. 14
Opinion divided on new tall buildings locally
Overall, to what extent would you support or oppose the building of a new tall building [similar to one of these] in
your local area, that is around 15-20 minutes’ walk from where you live?
7
30
33
17
14
Strongly support
Neither support
nor oppose
Tend to
oppose
Tend to
support
Strongly oppose
18
11
16
17
37
30
24
34
5 8
Inner London Outer London
29%
Support
34%
Oppose
42%
Support
28%
Oppose
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Inner London (186), Outer London (318); Split sample, questions combined
Source: Ipsos MORI

15. 15
Overall, to what extent would you support or oppose the building of a new tall building
similar to one of these in your local area, that is around 15-20 minutes’ walk from where
you live?
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Split samples
42
50
27
34
29
42
Total (241)
Outer London (155)
Inner London (86)
% Support % Oppose
Overall, to what extent would you support or oppose the building of a new tall building in
your local area, that is around 15-20 minutes’ walk from where you live?
32
33
31
27
27
26
Total (263)
Outer London (163)
Inner London (100)
% Support % Oppose
IMAGES NOT
SHOWN TO
SPLIT SAMPLE
With stimulus, Inner Londoners more likely to oppose
Source: Ipsos MORI

16. 16
Tall buildings good for local business, bad for local area
On balance do you think building a new tall building [similar to one of these] in your local area would be good, bad
or make no difference to…
30
34
48
59
38
37
32
27
32
29
20
14
The area as a place to live
Local people
Meeting local housing needs
Local businesses
% Good % Make no difference % Bad
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Don’t know not shown; Split sample, questions combined
Source: Ipsos MORI

17. 17
With stimulus, good/ bad sentiment strengthened
On balance do you think building a new tall building similar to one of
these in your local area would be good, bad or make no difference to…
42
19
35
32
54
45
64
65
30
42
36
39
29
42
26
21
28
39
28
29
17
13
9
14
Outer London (155)
Inner London (86)
Outer London (155)
Inner London (86)
Outer London (155)
Inner London (86)
Outer London (155)
Inner London (86)
% Good % Make no difference % Bad
Local business
Meeting local housing needs
Local people
The area as a place to live
Base: 504 adults 15+ in Greater London, 29 Jan-26 February 2016; Don’t know not shown; Split samples
On balance do you think building a new tall building in your local
area would be good, bad or make no difference to…
26
27
32
35
47
44
54
52
41
41
36
38
32
25
30
29
33
30
32
25
21
30
16
16
Outer London (163)
Inner London (100)
Outer London (163)
Inner London (100)
Outer London (163)
Inner London (100)
Outer London (163)
Inner London (100)
% Good % Make no difference % Bad
IMAGES NOT
SHOWN TO
SPLIT SAMPLE
Source: Ipsos MORI

18. 18
Technical details
 Interviews with a sample of 504 adults aged 15+ living in Greater
London.
 Undertaken face-to-face, in-home between 29 January and 26
February on Ipsos MORI’s face-to-face omnibus (Capibus).
 Data are weighted to be representative of the Greater London
population in relation to key characteristics including inner and outer
London, gender, age, social grade, work status, tenure and ethnicity.
 An asterisk (*) represents a value of less than one half or one percent,
but not zero.
 Where results do not sum to 100%, this is due to computer rounding.
Source: Ipsos MORI

19. ben.page@ipsos.com
stephen.finlay@ipsos.com