Historian Sir Simon Schama has added his voice to the protests over plans to erect two high rise towers near to the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London, which the shul claims will block out light to its premises.

The City of London is due to next week rule on proposals for a 48-storey office block in Bury Street and a 21-floor building in Creechurch Lane.

Bevis Marks reports that more than 2,700 objections to the developments have been received, 1,100 in the past three weeks.

Sir Simon said that “saving the light for Bevis Marks is a matter of the deepest historical and cultural significance, not just for England's Jewish community but for Britain's deep history. 

“The breathtakingly beautiful synagogue has been light- filled for centuries; lit by memory, worship and the flow of our nation's history. It featured in my A History of Britain BBC series but this would have been impossible had it been stripped of light by looming towers of the kind now proposed. 

“Its preservation should be as critical a matter as if, for instance, a Hawksmoor or Wren church were similarly threatened and darkened by commercial high-rise development. It must be saved.”

Campaigners have also revealed that an independent report commissioned by the City of London Corporation suggested that the proposed developments would result in “significant reductions in sunlight” and have a “major adverse impact” on the synagogue.