Sadiq Khan refused planning permission for a Las Vegas-style MSG Sphere in Stratford after warnings that its light displays could trigger epileptic seizures, according to a City Hall-commissioned report obtained by the Standard.
The report by WSP stated that the 100-metre-tall illuminated orb, covered with external LED lights 'the size of an ice hockey puck', would have 'significant adverse effects' on nearby residents and the night-time environment. It highlighted risks to people with epilepsy, dementia, autism, and mental health issues, noting that flicker from moving or flashing lights could cause seizures.
Sphere Entertainment, the US company behind the £1.5bn project, rejected the findings, calling the report a 'bogus effort to justify a purely political action'. The firm abandoned its London plans after Khan's decision, which it described as 'unconscionable'.
The report also warned that residents in nearby buildings such as Unite Student accommodation and Legacy Tower would feel like 'prisoners in their own home' due to light intrusion. A curfew was proposed to switch off the Sphere by 11.30pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends.
Khan's decision overturned a previous approval by the London Legacy Development Corporation. The mayor cited 'significant light intrusion' and 'detriment to human health' as reasons for refusal.
