AFK-designed 55 Bishopsgate given nod this morning
The City of London is set to see the construction of its third tallest tower by the end of the decade following the approval of AFK鈥檚 plans for the 63-storey 55 Bishopsgate.
Councillors voted this morning to back investor Schroders鈥� plans for the 269m office-led scheme, which is expected to complete by 2029, despite a formal objection from Historic England.
It will provide more than 103,000sq m of commercial floorspace, of which 80,000sqm will be office space, and will be topped by a free roof garden.
Cultural space in the building could also be handed to New London Architecture (NLA) for a 鈥減otential permanent home鈥� for the London Centre.
The tower will be around 10m shorter than the neighbouring 22 Bishopsgate, currently the Square Mile鈥檚 tallest tower, although shorter than Eric Parry鈥檚 1 Undershaft, which is undergoing a significant redesign.
Historic England objected to the plans on the grounds of its perceived impact on the City鈥檚 historic character and the London skyline, including St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral.
Westminster council also objects to the scheme, while campaign group the Twentieth Century Society has objected because of the loss of the existing 1980s building on the site, a nine-storey block by Fitzroy Robinson & Partners.
But the tower鈥檚 planning consultant DP9, speaking in defence of the proposals at today鈥檚 meeting, said the scheme offers a 鈥渢horough and wide-ranging public benefits package鈥�.
A spokesperson for the 55 Bishopsgate proposals said today: 鈥淲e welcome the decision by the City of London Corporation to support its officers鈥� recommendation to grant planning permission for our proposals at 55 Bishopsgate.
鈥漈his approval follows an extensive consultation process with the Corporation, GLA and those living and working in the City. It represents a key milestone in the development of what will be one of the most significant planned additions to the City in the coming years.鈥�
NLA co-founder and chief executive Nick McKeogh said: 鈥淲e are excited by the potential for NLA to develop a tailor-made, long-term home for The London Centre as part of 55 Bishopsgate.
鈥漌e are grateful to both Stanhope and Schroders, who have been very accommodating of our requirements which can provide opportunities for a wide range of cultural, educational, and learning activities in one of the most visible and attractive locations in the capital. We await the next steps in the planning process.鈥�
In a report recommending the scheme for approval ahead of the meeting, the council鈥檚 planning officers acknowledged the tower would impact on grade I-listed St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral, but categorised the effect as 鈥渁 significant, but lower level of less than substantial harm鈥�, in the language of the National Planning Policy Framework.
But officers said the proposals would contribute 14% of the City鈥檚 overall projected office floorspace requirements and deliver an estimated net increase of 6,350 full-time equivalent jobs, and increase local footfall 鈥渄ramatically鈥�.
鈥淭his uplift will contribute significantly to inward investment in the Square Mile and supports the strategic objective to maintain a world class city which is competitive and promotes opportunity,鈥� they said.
Officers also rejected the C20 Society鈥檚 assessment of the current building at 55 Bishopsgate, describing it as having 鈥渘o historic interest鈥�.
They concluded that the AFK proposals were 鈥渆legantly tapered and distinctive鈥� and would make a 鈥渟ignificant beneficial contribution鈥� to the appearance of the City鈥檚 Tall 好色先生TVs Cluster in skyline and local views.
Stanhope is development manager for the project; QS is Alinea; Arup is fa莽ade engineer; Robert Bird Group is structural engineer and Hilson Moran is M&E engineer. Landscape architect is Townshend.
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