AV Magazine AV Magazine 
London mayor Sadiq Khan has refused planning approval for a local version of the Sphere.
In a letter to the development corporation which oversees London’s Olympic Park area, Khan said the venue “would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents”.
Khan based his refusal on a 111-page report commissioned by the Greater London Authority. This said the venue’s external illumination would “cause significant light intrusion resulting in significant harm to the outlook of neighbouring properties, detriment to human health, and significant harm to the general amenity enjoyed by residents of their own homes”.
The light pollution would affect 61 homes and 177 student rooms.
In addition, city planners also complained about the proposed venue’s “bulky, unduly dominant and incongruous form”and the environmental impact of the energy usage it would require.
The London mayor had previously encouraged the application, when plans were first announced in 2018, saying: “It’s great to welcome another world-class venue to the capital, to confirm London’s position as a music powerhouse and to boost still further our city’s thriving nighttime economy.”
A statement from Madison Square Garden Entertainment officials said they were “disappointed in London’s decision” but added, “There are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those.”
The company is planning further Spheres in Hanan in South Korea and in other cities which have not yet been announced.
In other Sphere news:
- Leading set designer Es Devlin has said the Sphere represents the ‘iPhoneification of tour design’ in an interview about her career
- Formula 1 banned the colours yellow, red and blue from the Sphere during the Las Vegas Grand Prix to avoid distracting drivers
- Beyoncé is in talks to take up the next residency at the Sphere
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