A skyscraper which will become the tallest building in the City of London has received planning consent.
1 Undershaft will be the tallest in the City of London and joint tallest in Western Europe at 309.6m, matching the height of the Shard. However, it outdoes the Shard by putting its public viewing gallery right at the top, making it the highest publicly accessible viewing gallery in Europe.
Also within and around the building:
- A free-to-access elevated public garden on the 11th floor, offering views of St Paul’s Cathedral, 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin), and the Lloyds building;
- A family-friendly education centre operated by the London Museum (formerly Museum of London) focusing on the capital's history and geography;
- A public area at the base of the building near St Helen's Square, with a 12.5x7m screen showing concerts, talks, and sports fixtures;
- A new public square, Undershaft Square, with "forest-inspired landscaping"
The remainder of the building will be used for office space.
As we reported in November 2023, initial designs for the building were revised, making it wider at the base and adding an extra floor. Now, in December 2024, the City of London Planning Applications Sub-Committee has resolved to grant consent for the proposals.
You won't see it shooting up right away, however. Before construction can begin, the not-insignificant tower already on the site must be demolished. The St Helen's Tower (pictured below) was most recently occupied by Aviva. At 118 metres, we reckon it'll be the largest skyscraper ever demolished in London.
