Saudi Arabia Reassesses £1.2 Trillion Solar Mirror City Plans

Several ambitious urban development projects in major cities are facing significant challenges and reconsiderations. Saudi Arabia's futuristic city, The Line, envisioned as a 105-mile solar-powered metropolis for 9 million people, is undergoing a strategic review amid financial constraints and falling oil prices, leading to potential scale-backs and employee dismissals. In Dublin, the newly erected tallest building on Tara Street has sparked controversy due to its stark departure from city planning guidelines and its intrusive, dark design that clashes with the historic cityscape. London's planning scene is marked by ongoing tension between the City of London Corporation, eager to promote skyscraper development to maintain its global financial status, and Historic England, which often objects to tall building proposals over heritage concerns. This conflict adds delays and costs to projects, affecting investor confidence. Additionally, Herzog & de Meuron and developer Sellar have unexpectedly reentered the competition to redevelop Liverpool Street Station with new plans, despite previous rejection and ongoing opposition, adding further complexity and uncertainty to the future of this major London transport hub.