The assessment should include an energy and carbon analysis, including embodied energy. “As far as I know this has not been carried out to date, which is surprising, given the interest in energy conscious retrofit now emerging,” he said. “It is not too late for a change of heart.”

Finch’s comments come as further details of plans for the £500 million Blackwall Reach project were revealed in an outline application to Tower Hamlets Council. The first phase, which includes a new school and mosque to the north of the estate, will be designed by Aedas.

Developers Swan Housing and Countryside Properties will then hold design competitions for the next three phases, including plans for housing to replace Alison and Peter Smithson’s 1970s buildings.

Last week leading housing architects called on the profession to boycott any competitions for the estate’s replacement.

The building’s on-off development suffered its latest setback last week when builders downed tools because of worries about funding.

Work on the 64-storey tower started up again late last year after earlier being stalled.

Developer Arab Investments resumed work after securing a £500 million debt facility from a group of lenders led by HSBC.

But the deal was reliant on the developer pre-letting a chunk of the tower, which it has not yet done. Arab Investments said it did not know how long the latest delay would last.

Two years ago parts of the tower were redrawn by KPF to include a three-storey viewing platform to feature artefacts loaned by the Museum of London.

Paul King, chief executive of UKGBC, teamed up with environmental campaigners to respond to plans outlined by Gove which would see the Breeam standard dropped for new-build and refurbished schools. Under the previous government’s Building Schools for the Future programme schools were required to meet a Breeam “very good” standard.

The letter, which was also sent to David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, along with five other cabinet ministers, said the proposal was “deeply concerning”.

It said: “Breeam is well understood and widely recognised by the construction industry. Removing it would introduce enormous complexity for non-expert construction clients, arguably increasing bureaucracy and thereby causing delay in the design process and driving up costs.

“Reneging on the commitment would also send a terrible message to the UK industry which frequently builds to Breeam “excellent” standards in commercial developments so they can be occupied by a public sector anchor-tenant.”

The Department for Education is considering the future of Breeam standards as part of the recommendations made in the James Review.

The mayor revealed the ambition following an agreement with secretary of state Eric Pickles and the Homes and Communities Agency to facilitate the next phase of development, which includes 1,350 homes by the end of 2015 delivered by developer Lend Lease.

Johnson said: “This latest phase of regeneration will seal its future as a thriving, well-connected new district, combining vibrant new residential areas and fantastic leisure facilities.”

Progress on a number of other key sites in the capital was also announced, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Tower Hamlets. Housing association Family Mosaic won a competition for the project where 180 homes are planned following the demolition of the hospital. Family Mosaic’s team beat a bid from developer Igloo and Ash Sakula which would have retained the building.

And in Southwark an Ojeu competition will be launched to find a developer for the Newington site in Elephant & Castle, which will include a 43-storey tower and 470 homes.

The news follows last week’s announcement that a new road tunnel between Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown in the Royal Docks will be built.

Numbers of female architects working for UK practices has fallen 7% since 2009.

The RIBA Future Trends Survey reported 21% of architectural staff in December 2011 were female, compared to 28% in January 2009.

Architects also reported a decrease in confidence over future workloads for December 2011.

The RIBA’s monthly workload index for last month stands at -11, down from -4 in November.

Practices in the south-east of England and in London showed the most optimism about future demand for services, while those in Northern Ireland are the most pessimistic.

The private housing sector shows the most promise for future workloads but public sector and community work remains under pressure.

Adrian Dobson, RIBA director of practice, said: “Our respondents and practices continue to report intense fee competition, restrictions in bank lending and uncertainty over the general economic outlook as their main challenges.

“Of ongoing concern is the disproportionate impact of the recession on employment levels for women working in architecture. The RIBA remains committed to addressing these inequalities through initiatives including the Architects for Change and Women in Architecture groups”

According to figures released today the number of architects receiving jobseekers allowance in December 2011 was 905, compared to a 12-month high of 1,035 in August 2011.

The figures show that overall 2011 was a better year for architects than 2010, which ended with 1,010 architects claiming a jobseekers allowance.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the number of architects in full-time employment is 25,000, with another 17,000 in full-time self-employment. Overall, there are 45,000 architects working in the UK.

Their owners, Fenway Sports Group has been working with specialist Manchester practice AFL on a brand new ground for the club in the city’s Stanley Park next door to the club’s current Anfield home.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the news will mean that futuristic designs (pictured) unveiled by US firm HKS in 2006 will now be scrapped for good. The £400 million plans were already in limbo after the previous Liverpool board said they were too expensive.

AFL, which declined to comment, first drew up plans for a new stadium in the early 2000s. These were put forward for planning in 2003 and given the all-clear a year later.

The new plans are dependent on the club raising the £300 million required to build the 60,000-seat ground, with at least half of this required before construction can begin.

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