Revealed: Secret plans to build London's next mega tower
Proposals have been submitted for the second tallest skyscraper in Europe to be erected in the City
3:29PM BST 05 Jul 2015
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Plans to build the City’s tallest skyscraper, which will rival the Shard in height and make it the second loftiest tower in Europe, have been submitted to the City of London Corporation.
The Aviva Tower, which is also known as St Helen’s and sites opposite the Gherkin will be demolished to make way for the gigantic office block.
The developers are seeking permission to erect a 304m (997ft) building, just a few meters shy of the 309m Shard on south of the Thames, which would dwarf 22 Bishopsgate - the stalled Pinnacle scheme.
An image of the stalled Pinnacle scheme which was to be called the Helter Skelter in the middle of the picture.
The site - Number One, Undershaft - was bought by Singaporean magnate Kuok Hong Khoon - the founder and chief executive of the world’s largest palm oil company, Wilmar International.
Mr Kuok owns the Aviva building and site with his fellow Wilmar board member, and Chinese Indonesian businessman, Martua Sitorus.
The architect, Eric Parry, is thought to be leading the project, having recently finished the Green Properties office building at St James’s Square which achieved record rents for the area in April.
However, one property expert said that the plans will spark fresh controversy over the cluster of skyscrapers springing up in the City.
Gerald Ronson's Heron Tower in the City.
It may also prove difficult to achieve planning consent as 22 Bishopsgate was originally set to be 307m but was later scaled down to 288m, following concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority.
“Eric Parry is a very well regarded architect but the plans will cause a stir,” said a source. “Since the Walkie Talkie melted a car [by reflecting sunlight off the concave building and on to the street below] tall towers have become controversial again.”
He claimed it would cause people to worry about the London skyline and the impact on the Tower of London.
The computer-generated images of Number One, Undershaft, have been compared to Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square, only much taller.
One Canada Square in Canary Wharf.
