A detailed planning application for the tallest building in the City of London has today been submitted by Aroland Holdings to the City of London. The 73 storey development at 1 Undershaft would rise to 309.6m AOD (Above Ordnance Datum) crowning the new cluster of planned skyscrapers in the Square Mile. The proposed building also includes the creation of a large public square at the base of the tower and a public viewing gallery, education centre and public restaurant at the top of the tower.
Submission of the planning application follows thorough consultation with local residents, businesses, councillors and the local community. As part of the ongoing engagement, public exhibitions took place in December 2015 and included outreach with the local community.
Eric Parry, the architect of 1 Undershaft, said:
“The launch of 1 Undershaft in 2015 was very well received by Londoners and we are pleased to now be submitting a full application to the City of London.
1 Undershaft represents the very best of architecture in a premier location in the City. The building sets new standards in terms of comfort, quality, and environmental sustainability.
Following feedback from the consultations we have redesigned the public square to offer easier access for cyclists and expand the usable space for the public. We remain committed to building London’s finest public viewing gallery, classrooms and public restaurant.
The response to 1 Undershaft has been overwhelmingly positive. The enthusiastic support for the public viewing gallery and enlarged Public Square has been especially welcome as the tower has been designed to put the public first.”
A new public square
At the base of the tower a new larger public square will be created. The tower will employ an elevated reception lobby meaning that the public will be able to walk freely beneath the skyscraper. The open public space at the base of the tower creates a connection between two of the City of London’s most ancient places of worship. St Andrew Undershaft and St Helen’s Bishopsgate churches will be connected by the new sightline across the open public square. 2,050 sqm of retail space will also be created in a basement-level retail gallery of new restaurants, cafes, and shops accessed from the public square. The design of the public square has been refined following feedback from members of the public about cycle access to the 1,664 cycle spaces.
The UK’s tallest public viewing gallery
The planning application for 1 Undershaft includes provision for London’s tallest viewing gallery, which will be served by dedicated lifts. The public viewing gallery will be accompanied by an education centre with two classrooms for school parties to learn more about the capital, its growth and its history, and London’s highest restaurant.
The City of London’s tallest building
1 Undershaft will crown the cluster of tall buildings in the City of London. With 73 storeys, rising to 309.6m AOD, the tower will be the tallest building in the City of London. The building will provide more than 90,000sqm of net internal area. The offset design of the core and the rigidity provided by the unique external bracing means floor space has been maximized providing much needed flexible, quality office accommodation for businesses in the City of London.
The tower has been designed to stand elegantly as the tallest building in the Eastern Cluster of tall towers while respecting London’s protected views.
Upon completion the building will accommodate approximately 7,500 people. Bicycle spaces will be provided with new shower and changing facilities to encourage active commuting. Reducing traffic to the building is a priority with the tower and to achieve this an offsite consolidation centre will be created for all deliveries. Deliveries would be made outside peak hours reducing the lorry movements on the roads around the tower.
The planning application has been submitted to the City of London and a decision is expected to be taken by summer 2016.
