City of London gives green light for new office tower as confidence in the Square Mile returns
The City of London Corporation this afternoon approved plans for a new 24-storey office tower on Houndsditch in the Eastern Cluster, the Square Mile’s seventh tall building to be approved so far this year.
The City’s Planning and Transportation Committee backed Brockton Everlast’s scheme, designed by architects AHMM, which will provide roughly 56,500 sq m of office space as well as some retail and café space, community space, basement cycle parking and new public realm.
The development includes urban greening, such as green walls and various landscaped terraces and balconies for office occupiers.
Pavements around the site will be widened and there will be landscaping and greening to the new public realm, enhancing Petticoat Lane Market and improving connectivity to the Eastern Cluster with areas to the north and east, according to a City of London Corporation statement.
“The development has a strong focus on sustainability with the proposals aiming to reduce operational carbon emissions by 44 per cent, when compared to a Building Regulations compliant building, and reducing whole life carbon emissions,” the City body said.
A flexible community space offering, with rooms for social spaces and learning programmes with a focus on gardening and urban greening, will be free to access for community groups, charities and schools, the statement read.
The scheme will incorporate facilities for cyclists with 948 long stay and 33 short stay cycle parking spaces as well as facilities such as showers, lockers and for bicycle repairs.
Chair of the City Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Alastair Moss, said this afternoon: “115-123 Houndsditch is the seventh office-led tall building scheme to secure planning permission in the Square Mile this calendar year.”
“This clearly illustrates the enduring strength of the office market in the City of London and unwavering confidence from developers,” Moss added.
