Make hails VR influence for planning U-turn

Make has hailed the use of virtual reality for helping overturn a planning refusal of its proposed 46-storey Isle of Dogs residential tower.The scheme was initially rejected by Tower Hamlets Council for being too large, a decision overturned by government planning inspector Colin Ball.Make founder Ken Shuttleworth told CN’s Breakfast Club earlier this year that Make had started to draw projects in VR and he expected its use to be widespread on projects within the next five years.The mixed-use development at 225 Marsh Wall will include 332 apartments.Make said it would act as a “sister tower” to its Madison Building, which is due to complete in 2020 and would be of an intermediate scale between the Canary Wharf cluster to the north and other tall buildings to the south.Client Cubitt Properties and development manager LBS Properties hailed the decision on the £230m scheme, which will include 71 affordable homes and almost 1,000 sq m of commercial space.