A massive 31-storey tower has been approved for the City of London next to the Walkie Talkie – with a 17th floor public garden

In July, developers revealed plans to build a brand-new sky garden at 130 Fenchurch Street in the Square Mile. Now, the plans for the new 31-storey tower have officially been given the go-ahead. The new glass and steel building will take over the site of Fountain House, a derelict post-war office block that was one of the first towers to be built in the Square Mile after the Blitz.

Earlier this week the City of London Corporation’s planning committee approved the plans unanimously. Designed by WilkinsonEyre architects, the new skyscraper will comprise 58,000 square metres of office space and 371 square metres of public space on its ground floor, including shopping and food and drink outlets, as well as a new pedestrian route between Cullum Street and Fen Court.

As for the sky garden, the developers plan to build a double-height external garden terrace on the 17th floor. Currently, 130 Fenchurch Street is home to Seed130, a temporary gallery and cultural space that will be used for exhibitions and other displays while the building is still vacant. 

The building will be designed to resemble a crown at its top, with distinct glass panels. Here are a few more renders of the designs.

Tom Sleigh, chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee, said: ‘130 Fenchurch captures our ambition to unlock growth: a striking new workplace in the heart of the City, with routes and views that open up the City for everyone.

‘This is about more than one building – it’s part of a pattern of proactive planning decisions that are helping to shape a future-ready Square Mile: greener, denser, more dynamic, and firmly aligned with the UK’s growth mission.’

Fountain House is scheduled for demolition in 2026, with 130 Fenchurch Street slated to be complete by 2030.

The iconic central London bridge that is getting a dazzling makeover. 

The massive new 15,000-home town that has just been approved for southeast London. 

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