London’s skyline will be changing again with the addition of 55 Bishopsgate
The Gherkin, the Cheesegrater and the Walkie Talkie will be getting a new neighbour in the next few years as plans for the 284-metre high 55 Bishopsgate building have been approved. The new skyscraper, which’ll be the third tallest in the City of London, will feature office space for 7000 workers, a publicly accessible ground floor area to be used for pop-ups and events, dedicated cultural spaces, and a free public roof garden and viewing platform offering 360-degree views over the city.
Speaking about the approval of the plans, Shravan Josi, the Chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transport Committee, has said, “I am delighted to see the 55 Bishopsgate scheme granted planning permission which sets a high bar for others to follow. The free, public viewing gallery and external platform will deliver an exciting and inclusive resource for all to enjoy, bringing us closer to our Destination City vision to transform the Square Mile into a seven-day-a-week visitor destination.”
However, not everyone is as thrilled about the new development. There have been objections to the proposal, particularly from St Paul’s Cathedral and Historic England, who raised concerns over the negative impact the new building would have on the views of the cathedral and the heritage of the area. It’s now up to the Mayor to step in, otherwise construction is expected to start next year with an estimated completion date of 2029, so still a while to wait before you can head up there and check out the views.
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Opens 2029
55 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AS
cityoflondon.gov.uk