The City of London Corporation releases a CGI that shows how London’s skyline will look by 2026, based on current plans. The images depict a group of 13 skyscrapers, one standing at 290 metres high, which construction has been approved and is due to start immediately.
The towers are proposed for the eastern section of the City, which is already home to a few skyscrapers including the Leadenhall Building by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, known as The Cheesegrater, and St Mary Axe by Foster + Partners, known as The Gherkin.
1 Undershaft, a 289.9 metre high building designed by Eric Parry Architects, will become their neighbour by 2026 together with the 278 metre high TwentyTwo tower by PLP Architecture.
Chris Hayward, the chair of the planning committee at the City of London Corporation said that “it is unprecedented to see such a scale of development taking place at one time in the Square Mile.”
To the public’s pleasure, six of the 13 skyscrapers will include free public viewing decks at their tops. These six are the 85 metre 10 Fenchurch Street. 1 Undershaft, the 185 metre 6-8 Bishopsgate, 182.7 metre 1 Leadenhall Street, TwentyTwo tower, and the 2-4 Finsbury Avenue Scheme.
Hayward reckons that over the next 30 years there will be a need for offices for up to 100,000 extra City workers and iconic buildings “will lead the way in ensuring the City remains competitive as a leading financial centre.”
The other seven skyscrapers are: the 206 metre tall 52 Lime Street, the 181 metre 100 Bishopsgate tower, the 164.3 metre 70 St Mary Axe, the 150.92 metre 150 Bishopsgate, the 78 metre 80 Fenchurch Street, the 105 metre 130 Fenchurch Street, and 170 metre 40 Leadenhall Street.
