The City of London has approved plans for the 1 Undershaft skyscraper, set to match The Shard’s height, with completion expected in six years
London: So, the City of London Corporation just gave the green light for the 1 Undershaft project. This skyscraper is going to be a real showstopper, matching The Shard’s height. But don’t expect to see it finished for at least six years.
This 74-storey tower is going to sit right in the heart of London, and it’s been a bit of a hot topic. There’s been a lot of chatter about it, especially with some folks not too happy about the plans. One big point of contention? A massive digital screen at the base that some say will make the area feel like a surveillance zone.
Now, here’s the scoop: the design comes from Eric Parry Architects, and it’s meant to replace St Helen’s Tower. Originally, they planned for it to be 1,000 feet tall, but they’ve upped that to 1,016 feet, making it the same height as The Shard. It’ll be close to other iconic buildings like The Gherkin, so it’ll fit right in.
While the main focus is on office space, there’s also going to be retail spots, public areas, and even a restaurant. Plus, they’re planning a viewing gallery on the 10th floor for some killer city views. Sounds pretty cool, right?
But here’s the kicker: there are still a lot of unknowns. We don’t know what businesses will move in or what the retail options will be. And while they’re talking about making it sustainable, the details on that are still a bit fuzzy.
Also, it’s unclear how this giant will affect the area around it. Will traffic get worse? How will it change the vibe of the City of London? Those are questions still hanging in the air.
In the grand scheme of things, the tallest buildings in the UK are all in London. The Shard is the tallest, but there are plans for new towers in other cities, like Manchester. Still, nothing compares to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is a whopping 828 meters tall!