More London’s artificial stream has been filled in

The flowing stream has been a much-photographed feature of the pedestrian route between Tooley Street and City Hall.

Broadgate Estates, which manages More London, has applied to Southwark Council for permission (18/AP/1650) to fill in 'The Rill'.

Although the application has not yet been determined by the council, work has already been carried out.

The council has received seven objections. One commenter says that The Rill is "the most powerful and only truly public spirited aspect of the public realm there and its removal would have an overwhelmingly negative impact on the way in which the development interacts with the public".

Another notes that More London's water features are "a characterful addition and softening to a harsh urban landscape".

The SE1 website invited Broadgate Estates to comment on the reason for the decision to eliminate The Rill but no response was received.

The ultimate owner of the More London complex is the State of Kuwait which spent a reported £1.7 billion buying the estate in 2013.

According to the planning application documents, the water channel will be bricked up in such a way to keep open the option of its future reinstatement.