View of the City in 2026 from City Hall (City of London)
The Corporation of London has released new images showing how the skyline of the City will look once 13 new skyscrapers are completed.
The projects (see table below) have all either received planning consent, are under construction or due to start construction.
Around 60% of the City of London’s growth is expected to be delivered in the “eastern cluster”, between Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street stations.
As of September 2017, there were more than 1.37 million sq m of office space under construction in the City with the potential to accommodate 85,000 workers. This compares to 1.22 million sq m in March 2016, before the vote to leave the European Union.
The Corporation said there have been two noticeable new trends in skyscrapers approved by its Planning and Transportation Committee: public viewing galleries and offsite consolidation in the construction methodology.
Six of the 13 upcoming developments will have free public viewing galleries. These are: 22 Bishopsgate (TwentyTwo), 120 Fenchurch Street, 6-8 Bishopsgate, 1 Leadenhall Street and 1 Undershaft, which will also host a dedicated Museum of London gallery at the top of the building, alongside interactive learning spaces and London’s highest restaurant. The sixth is 2-3 Finsbury Avenue, located north of the eastern cluster.
The Corporation granted TwentyTwo planning permission on the condition that its deliveries are sent to an offsite consolidation centre. This is the first time an office tower has been subject to such a planning requirement.
The Corporation said it is encouraging offsite consolidation to reduce the traffic, safety and environmental impacts of freight while improving safety and still allowing the City to receive the deliveries it needs.
Chris Hayward, planning committee chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: “It is unprecedented to see such a scale of development taking place at one time in the Square Mile. There are now more cranes in the City sky than in recent decades.
“The City’s occupier base is becoming more dynamic, with SMEs and media companies choosing the Square Mile as their home. I am particularly proud that we are able to make available economically inclusive spaces with free public viewing galleries in City skyscrapers.
“Over the next 30 years I expect that we will need to deliver office space for up to 100,000 extra City workers. Therefore iconic buildings such as TwentyTwo will lead the way in ensuring the City remains competitive as a leading financial centre.”
Three tall buildings completed construction in 2016/17, including 1 Creechurch Place in the eastern cluster. Approaching completion were 120 Fenchurch Street, The Scalpel, 22 Bishopsgate, 100 Bishopsgate and 70 St Mary Axe.
Aerial view of 2026 City from the east
