London’s Tallest Tower Losing Monopoly on Title

A building approval in London will not take The Shard’s title as the city’s tallest away from it, but it will have to share.

The City of London Corporation’s Planning Applications-Sub Committee has cleared the way for 1 Undershaft, a 74-storey, 309.6m tower, the equal of The Shard to the centimetre.

To be built between the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) and the Leadenhall building on the north side of the Thames, the approved skyscraper “will be a key addition to the Square Mile’s future skyline and the tallest lynchpin to the City Cluster”, the corporation said.

It will provide 154,156sq m of Grade-A office space as well as a 1000sq m free-to-visit elevated public space and children’s education space at levels 72 and 73, operated in partnership with the London Museum.

This is in line with the corporation’s Destination City agenda to boost footfall and economic growth across the Square Mile, with the educational space to create “a compelling and inclusive cultural and public offer in the heart of the cluster”.

The tower will also feature a 2500sq m publicly accessible podium garden 42m above street level with a structural glass floor, and food, drink, and retail amenities, as well as cultural attractions, across levels 10 to 12.

“The garden will provide outstanding new views of surrounding historic assets, including the Lloyds building,” according to the corporation.

▲ The tower will neighbour one of London’s most recognisable towers, 30 St Mary Axe, aka the Gherkin.

“The ground level public realm in the local area will be transformed, from St Mary Axe to parts of Leadenhall Street, into an accessible step-free area, with new greening, seating and wayfinding, to make the area more pleasant to be in and travel through as well as a large digital screen to be used for events and screenings.”

While it and The Shaft will be equals for total height, 1 Undershaft designers Eric Parry Architects are planning Europe’s highest publicly accessible viewing gallery.

Planned for the site occupied by insurer Aviva’s former headquarters, the skyscraper will provide almost 13 per cent of the office space required in the City of London to 2040.

Work has begun removing the tower on the site, however, 1 Undershaft is not expected to open until 2030.

The tower was initially granted approval in 2016 at a slightly smaller height but did not proceed.