The City of London Corporation has unveiled images of how the Square Mile’s skyline will look by the mid 2020’s
The new images capture all major developments which have been granted approval at the Square Mile by the planning committee over the past 12 months.
These projects include 50 Fenchurch Street, 55 Gracechurch Street, 60 Aldgate High Street, 70 Gracechurch Street and 2-3 Finsbury Avenue.
The majority of these tall buildings fall within the ‘City Cluster’ area, located in the eastern corner of the Square Mile.
As a ‘key area of change’ identified in the City Plan 2036, the City Cluster is set to grow to close the gap between the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ and the group of towers, while introducing more animated ground floor spaces.
Changes will also include pedestrian priority areas, a push for offsite consolidation and the re-timing of freight and deliveries outside of peak hours.
Key development guidance included in the City Plan encourages urban greening, new pedestrian routes through tall buildings and the inclusion of flexible and adaptable office floorspace.
‘The City office is here to stay’
Chair of the planning and transportation committee at the City of London Corporation, Alastair Moss, said: “These new CGI images clearly illustrate that the City office is here to stay, and the future of the Square Mile remains bright.
“The support shown from developers and investors who remain committed to providing world-leading office space in the City of London has been phenomenal.
“These developers have embraced trends – such as flexible workspace, world-class additions to the public realm and including an array of wellness practices such as greening – to ensure office buildings in the City remain fit for the future.
“As we look towards the recovery from the pandemic, our planning pipeline is extremely busy with the anticipation of a swift return to the City as the leading place for business in a world-class environment.
“We have every confidence in a thriving and sustainable Square Mile, and these new images give a glimpse into the next chapter of the City of London.”
Curator-in-chief at NLA, Peter Murray, added: “This is a remarkable image of how the City of London will look later this decade, combining existing buildings with those under construction as well as towers that have planning permission but are yet to be built.
“Love them or loathe them, tall buildings provide a striking graphic image of the confidence that developers and investors have in a city.
“These towers, designed by some of the world’s leading architects, cluster together on the east of the Square Mile to protect historic views of St Paul’s Cathedral and provide a supercharged centre of agglomeration which will be such an important driver of economic success as we emerge from the pandemic.
“This is a very encouraging picture for the future of the City, of London and UK plc.”
There are currently approximately six further tall building applications being discussed.
Public consultation on the City Plan 2036 is running until 10 May.
