Giant new London skyscraper would be almost as tall as The Shard

Detailed summary

The City of London's skyline is about to change as a new giant skyscraper may be coming.

London’s skyline could soon change drastically, as a new giant skyscraper may be on its way.

The brand-new building will be located in the heart of the city near the famous Gherkin Tower, and it will replace the current Exchequer Court office building on St Mary Axe.

According to a proposal by the site’s owner, US insurer AmTrust, the revamped tower will have 70 floors and stand at almost 300m, making it almost as tall as The Shard (309m).

Its height means it will also tower over nearby buildings, including the iconic Gherkin (180m) and the famous Cheesegrater (225m).

Reports claim the new building will create 100,000m2 of office space, but, like the other skyscrapers suddenly appearing in London, it will also provide some public amenities.

The first seven floors of the tower will be accessible to the public and house cultural, exhibition, and events spaces.

A publicly accessible double-height landscaped garden will be constructed on the seventh floor, offering views of the Gherkin Tower, and reports suggest that the building will have a rooftop garden, too.

According to Construction Enquirer, the tower’s design is being developed to ‘respect’ views of the Grade 1-listed St Helen’s Bishopsgate Church in the St Helen’s Place Conservation Area, and will feature a ‘pulled back’ design to create a public courtyard near the area.

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