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The City of London Corporation's Planning and Transportation Committee has voted 19-2 in favour of a 73-storey office tower that would become the tallest building in the central business district. Approval of 1 Undershaft was originally granted in 2016 but was only formalized in a consent letter issued this month following objections from a number of parties.
The consent letter outlines 47 conditions that developer Aroland Holdings Limited will have to meet, giving them five years to start work on the 290-metre-tall project. One of them solidifies the provision of a publicly accessible viewing gallery on the 71st and 72nd storeys, with additional conditions requiring the inclusion of 1,800 bicycle spaces, 167 showers for employees, and a Breeam assessment to be conducted upon completion to confirm the pledged "excellent" environmental rating.
An estimated 10,000 workers will be accommodated throughout the 130,000 square metres of office space included in 1 Undershaft. Approximately 2,000 square metres of retail space will also be provided, complementing a new square to enhance the public realm.
Also known as The Trellis for its conspicuous external diagrid, the Eric Parry Architects-designed building had drawn criticism from Historic Royal Palaces, owner of the Tower of London, who expressed worry about the building's visual impact on the historic property.
The decision allows Aroland to move forward with the demolition of the 28-storey Modernist Aviva Tower, which has occupied the site for 50 years. No firm construction date has yet been announced.
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