Updated plans for a skyscraper as tall as The Shard in Central London have been submitted after concerns were raised about its potential impact on a public square, and fresh details about its features have been revealed. The City of London Corporation had rebuffed an initial proposal to redevelop One Undershaft next to the Leadenhall Building into a new 74-storey tower, requesting ‘minor adjustments’ be made.
The enormous skyscraper would feature Europe’s highest public viewing platform at the top in a new ‘sky garden’, and a huge public screen at its base with information on sports fixtures and concerts. Filed by applicant Aroland Holdings Limited, the scheme is a revision of plans approved in 2019 to demolish the existing Aviva Tower and construct a new office-led skyscraper in its place.
At a Planning Application Sub-Committee meeting in July, several representations were made raising concerns about the proposed building’s impact on St Helen’s Square, where insurance workers typically enjoy their lunch breaks.
That morning the Financial Times had reported the Chair of Lloyd’s of London, Bruce Carnegie-Brown, had written to the Corporation stating the scheme would ‘rob the City of a really important convening space’.
Common Councillor Dominic Christian, representing the local Lime Street ward and Global Chairman of Aon Reinsurance Solutions, told the sub-committee leaders in the insurance industry he had spoken with opposed the plans.
“If your audience today is the voters of Lime Street, those that are going to live and work there in the future, if you wish to sustain and advance that community, please, please defer your decision and seek further consultation,” he said.
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A motion proposed by the Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee, Deputy Shravan Joshi, suggested a decision be deferred to allow for ‘minor adjustments’ to the scheme. This was subsequently agreed, meaning the plans went back to be reviewed.
An amended proposal has now been submitted with the City with revisions made to the ground floor of the building. These include moving the southern façade further north and combining the public entrances into a raised lobby, so retaining more of St Helen’s Square.
Due to the additional space, the redesign also includes a 20-metre public screen facing the square, which will display public information and showcase events including concerts and sporting fixtures. Increased seating is also planned.
A spokesperson for the scheme confirmed the height will remain the same, as will features such as the public garden podium on its 11th floor. The London Museum is to have a space, and a publicly accessible viewing platform will be at the top of the building, the highest in Europe.
Eric Parry, founder at Eric Parry Architects which has drawn up the proposal, said: “One Undershaft is a uniquely welcoming tall building in the City of London that provides free public access on multiple levels throughout the building. These include the London Museum’s education space and free viewing gallery on the uppermost floors and what will become an extraordinary new elevated public sky garden on the 11th floor.
“We’ve listened to the feedback offered by stakeholders and neighbours and submitted a new design proposal for the lower part of the building that improves upon our earlier plans, with more space available in St Helen’s Square, a more strongly expressed public entrance to the building, a new public screen and temporary stage providing cultural experiences, and intensified planting to the landscaped spaces around the base.
“Crucially, the benefits of the earlier proposal are retained, meaning that 1 Undershaft will meet the unique opportunity to secure civic value presented by this site at the centre of the City of London.”
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation confirmed the new application is expected to go back to committee in December.
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