15.05.20
Green light for largest urban greening building in London
Plans were approved yesterday (May 14) for the first building in London to incorporate urban greening on such a large scale.
The City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee has approved the building on Fenchurch Street that is set to include extensive vertical urban greening designed to improve air and noise pollution, combat the heat island effect and improve biodiversity.
The plans will contribute to making the area a healthier more attractive place to work, live and visit.
The existing site will undergo development that will mean a 36-fold increase in public space, a public roof garden, 60,000 sq m of office space and 800 sq m of retail space.
Approved plans also consist of 1248 long-stay cycle parking spaces and 42 short-stay cycle parking spaces, further supporting the push towards active travel in the city, as well as showers and associated facilities.
Alastair Moss, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, said:
“The City of London Corporation is proud to support world-class development – creating more great spaces for the people who work, visit and live in the Square Mile.
“The new 50 Fenchurch Street building will be of the highest quality design and has a number of innovative features, including extensive urban greening all the way into the higher floors and a new public space. It provides a significant increase in flexible office floorspace, meeting one of the primary objectives of the City's Local Plan and London Plan policies.
“We hope this new building will provide an example of sustainable development fit for future generations, as the City continues its pattern of sustainable growth.”
Image: Proposed view of City Cluster