Heh, look at that staircase.
175m glass elevators.http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/smilies/drool.gif

I wish the spire was more architectural. Maybe have the frame extend up like LBT's spire.

I'm starting to love the Heron Tower, it looks different from different angles :drool:

:drool:

Grimshaw has updated his website for anyone interested

http://www.grimshaw-architects.com

New Hotel for Canary Wharf in the shape of a Ship! Anymore info on this?

http://www.aquiva.co.uk/images/Library/Photo3837.jpg

New Hotel for Canary Wharf in the shape of a Ship! Anymore info on this?

http://www.aquiva.co.uk/images/Library/Photo3837.jpg

Its in the shape of a ship because it is a ....ship lol ;)

This has planning permission but not sure whats going on with it. Its been reported in the Wharf a few times over the years.


http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/search.cfm?searchscope=71670&query=floating+hotel&num=10&start=0

Very Nice ship, and just amazing render of the Heron Tower, every picture seems to make it look better, I really am looking forward to this one, it really will be fantastic

Its in the shape of a ship because it is a ....ship lol ;)


Yeah this isnt Dubai!

Yeah this isnt Dubai!It will be the same as the one at ExCeL. These things are not seaworthy and have to be towed into place. So yeah they float, but ships, not so sure.

The 20 storey tate tower is now under construction

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2052

I much prefered the more elegant & sleek original 34 storey proposal but with most things that gets attacked by nimbys you get a half-arsed compromise which ineveitably means a smaller blockier less elegant final design.

http://www.meyerbergman.com/hopton.html

Bit of bad news -

Grantie Wharf towers have been dropped

http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_objectid=16403781%26method=full%26siteid=50100-name_page.html

Uhh. God. I really liked those two. The bastards.

The 20 storey tate tower is now under construction

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2052



Cool, it may not be as good as the original but it is 72m, that makes it the ninth tallest thing U/C in London right now, but by the end of the year I have hopes it will be much further down the list:)

Sad to hear about Granite Wharf.

Here's a rendering btw:


http://i2.tinypic.com/r7k6fs.jpg

"It is over-dense and consists of blocks which one of our members likened to Stalinist type developments circa 1960."

:bash:

From this thread in the world forums...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=289365&page=11&pp=20

I can't believe what sycophantic arse-lickers some of you guys are! Can't you see, we're in a BATTLE for Europe's best skyline here? This is like a sport, a competition, a game... we don't want to show our support for the opposition!! :)

As far as I'm concerned, any supertalls being planned for La Defense is simply disastrous for London.

^^ come on will you can't really be serious :ohno:

WJFox, you know your problem mate? You have too much pride :) I'm not saying it in a rude way at all, you have passion for London, you have will to win and you have great persevarence. However, being true sports that we are, us Londoners, infact if the the people of Britian show thier support, then perhaps the French will show thier support for us.
Lets face it, one huge problem with these forums is no one is ever nice. Why don't we make the first move?
Oh and I totally agree with you. Its a sport, its competition and a race for the world's best skyline, but wasn't it you who once said quality beats quantity? London doesn't care about height, London doesn't care about density, London cares about quality :) Think about it, in twenty years time La Defence will be outdated and unoriginal. Then in the same twenty year time period London will have what? World class sexey's like, LBT, DIFA, Heron, 122 Leadenhall, Minerva, Willis, even the new telephone tower for crying out loud!
I say we give them thier pride whilst they have it. It'll be more himiluating for them in the next few years when London takes that pride of them and finally becomes renowned for it's skyline.
The Force is with London ;)

Although i never talk and im nothing to do with this conversation, i agree with will, and in my opinion, the french will never show support for us, after all we are historic rivals, all be it friendly ones. A proposal for a supertall in paris is totally disastourous. Same goes for the CAA. (question time now) because isnt it imposible for anything in london to break the 300m barrier (i dont understand how lbt got it, what with being closer to heathrows direct approach than DIFA) London forever.

btw please dont slaughter me for sticking my oar in :)

Quite interesting artcile about Londons continuing Financial dominance- Not much relevance to anything here except for the fact it should see increased demand for quality office space in the City (although most hedge funs are based in & around Knightsbridge) & increased demand for exclusive residential housing such as fancy apartments in fancy towers.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8209-2081045,00.html

A very good read London Lad, a reminder of how important the city (including the wharf) is to Britain's economy. I have noticed that a huge amount, probably 80% of account clients that I pick up from the city and wharf are non uk nationals, either living and working here or here on buisness. Most of them speak highly of London overall.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8209-2081045,00.html
Excellent article! :yes:

Makes you feel really good about London after reading that :cheers:

From this thread in the world forums...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=289365&page=11&pp=20

I can't believe what sycophantic arse-lickers some of you guys are! Can't you see, we're in a BATTLE for Europe's best skyline here? This is like a sport, a competition, a game... we don't want to show our support for the opposition!! :)

As far as I'm concerned, any supertalls being planned for La Defense is simply disastrous for London.

c'mon Will, It's pretty obvious who is going to win in 2012-2020, It's London. There isnt any denying it. There like kids, they're happy that they're getting this '400m' tower, but have you seen that render? Its crap. I dont even think it's a real render to be honest. The same goes for Moscow. They think theyre great with their big towers. But thats all they are, big towers. The only Moscow tower I actually find appealing is Parcel 12, and that is only 305m. They have the height but they have NO elegance whatsoever. compared to London 2012, Moscow, La defense, Istanbul, Frankfurt etc are nothing. They may be getting towers that are 'trendy' now, as eXSBass said, but they will be very dated very soon. London towers are timeless, and lets face it, alot of them look like something from the 23rd century! Londons unique style will let it be in the top 5 of world skylines in 10 years, and 5 or so years after that I think it could make it up there with the likes of NYC and HK.

So let the kiddies have their toys, but in 2012 they'll finally realise there aint no beating London!

Quite interesting artcile about Londons continuing Financial dominance- Not much relevance to anything here except for the fact it should see increased demand for quality office space in the City (although most hedge funs are based in & around Knightsbridge) & increased demand for exclusive residential housing such as fancy apartments in fancy towers.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8209-2081045,00.html

Excellent read!

My favourite quote from it:

“People go to Tokyo to do business in Japan, they go to New York to do business in America, but they come to London to do business with the rest of the world.”

c'mon Will, It's pretty obvious who is going to win in 2012-2020, It's London. There isnt any denying it. There like kids, they're happy that they're getting this '400m' tower, but have you seen that render? Its crap. I dont even think it's a real render to be honest. The same goes for Moscow. They think theyre great with their big towers. But thats all they are, big towers. The only Moscow tower I actually find appealing is Parcel 12, and that is only 305m. They have the height but they have NO elegance whatsoever. compared to London 2012, Moscow, La defense, Istanbul, Frankfurt etc are nothing. They may be getting towers that are 'trendy' now, as eXSBass said, but they will be very dated very soon. London towers are timeless, and lets face it, alot of them look like something from the 23rd century! Londons unique style will let it be in the top 5 of world skylines in 10 years, and 5 or so years after that I think it could make it up there with the likes of NYC and HK.

So let the kiddies have their toys, but in 2012 they'll finally realise there aint no beating London!



the biggest "kiddie" here are you ... hk...new york... :lol:

Excellent read!

My favourite quote from it:

“People go to Tokyo to do business in Japan, they go to New York to do business in America, but they come to London to do business with the rest of the world.”

Its now my sig ;)

the biggest "kiddie" here are you ... hk...new york... :lol:

Laugh all you want but by the time i'm 30 London will have some of the best towers in the world, and with it's unique style of really old and really futuristic, it WILL be worthy of atleast a top 5 position. Even if most people can't see that, we can. London doesnt need density when it has such quality, quite frankly too much density can ruin a skyline and take attention away from the best towers. London will have the perfect amount.




Reading that article, and seeing as how lots of companies are now seeing the benefits of space in London, is ther anychane of something bigger than the Shard being proposed in the next few years? Most American companies seem to like their high positions in skyscrapers.

Reading that article, and seeing as how lots of companies are now seeing the benefits of space in London, is ther anychane of something bigger than the Shard being proposed in the next few years?
Yes.

80-88 Bishopsgate.

80 - 88 Bishopsgate?

DIFA barely got through the planning bodies alive. Very sorry to disagree, but unless CAA and EH are taken care of, I doubt we'll see anything bigger than 325 metres, and that's really pushing it!

EH have no power anymore, no one particullarly pays attention to them. They have been seen for the fools they are, spending all of their money trying to stop new developments instead of protecting old ones like the should.

And DIFA, if it hadnt dropped it's height, probably would have won the battle against CAA, as it had alot of backing.

I think if a good enough 400m got proposed, and the mayor and all that backed it, these days it would have a good chance to get through IMHO.

I have noticed that a huge amount, probably 80% of account clients that I pick up from the city and wharf are non uk nationals, either living and working here or here on buisness. Most of them speak highly of London overall.

Well, we could have met then (the cabs in London are so unique!). Interesting comment. It is the strength of London. Another example, BNP Paribas’ global head of corporate finance, said last week that he wanted to increase the workforce in the bank’s London office by 40 per cent in an effort to win more UK business. “Britain is the largest market in Europe and we want to strengthen our UK team,” M Varene said. “We want to be more British".

EH have no power anymore, no one particullarly pays attention to them. They have been seen for the fools they are, spending all of their money trying to stop new developments instead of protecting old ones like the should.

And DIFA, if it hadnt dropped it's height, probably would have won the battle against CAA, as it had alot of backing.

I think if a good enough 400m got proposed, and the mayor and all that backed it, these days it would have a good chance to get through IMHO.

EH have no power now? Isn't that the same EH that developers are bending over backwards trying to please at every turn.

If EH had no power then Heron Tower wouldn't have its steps, 122 Leadenhall wouldn't slope, Bishopsgate Tower wouldn't spiral, Minerva wouldn't hide its width when viewed from the south, Broadgate wouldn't hide behind St Pauls when viewed from Waterloo.
EH has changed almost every proposal in the City in some way.

^^well thank god then, if it wasn't for EH we wouldn't have gotten such unique towers ;)

EH has changed almost every proposal in the City in some way.

For the better in some cases.

I think if a good enough 400m got proposed, and the mayor and all that backed it, these days it would have a good chance to get through IMHO.

London doesn't need a 400m high tower & I wouldn't be that bothered if we never see a tower over 310m just so long as we keep getting high quality towers in the 200-300m range. Lets not get fixated by height like over cities. Also consider Minerva is around 216m & look at the trouble the devloper is having to get that filled- so it would have to be a developer with very deep pockets to go for 400m. London is a totally different city to NY or HK & will never seek to emulate them. It will more like end up similar to Tokyo with a couple of clusters & a few tall towers dotted here & there.

That thread about Paris getting a super tall doesn't have much grounding- I think I read that that rendering was an outline plan that Paris would look like in the future & im sure it mentioned that it may have 2x 400m towers By 2020- For christs sake thats 14 years away- by then god knows how many skyscrapers London will have by then- look at whats gone through planning since 2000.

Also the fact if Paris does propose a 400m high tower thats a lot of space to fill at the detriment of other tower schemes.

Ow yeah forgot to mention MIPIM is this week- Its the annual binge in Cannes for the world property world so we should expect to see some nice new renderings & possibly new developments being promoted this week. All the big UK players are there.

http://www.mipim.com/App/homepage.cfm?appname=100458&moduleid=398

One other piece of info- The 29 storey resi tower incity rd basin has PP

http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/A_Step_Closer_For_City_Road_Basin.html

Its amazing the amount of info u can find on the net when your unemployed -lol ;)

Also the fact if Paris does propose a 400m high tower thats a lot of space to fill at the detriment of other tower schemes.

Fopr me that is where London has got it right, nothing ridiculously massive so it plugs the gap for 5 years or so, they are building enough so when demand peaks again there will be plenty more building oppurtunities

One other piece of info- The 29 storey resi tower incity rd basin has PP

http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/A_Step_Closer_For_City_Road_Basin.html

Its amazing the amount of info u can find on the net when your unemployed -lol ;)

I checked in with the IBC PR folks last week after they recently announced some funding from the ODPM - the response to my question was pretty non-commital (See below)

I subsequently asked what the construction work that is clearly underway in the site adjacent to where this tower would go is all about. A reasonably big crane has gone up over the past week or so, and there has been some piling activity but no obvious demolition of the clearly vacant building. No response forthcoming.....

Anyone out there know what is going on?...

"These are only proposals and as yet no decision has been taken on whether or not they go ahead. "

Communications Officer
Islington Council

Question:
"I just read the press release regarding the £2m from the ODPM. From the release I could not tell if the full plans (tall building, redevelopment along both sides of the basin etc) were moving forward. I have seen works proceding on the north side of the basin, but no demolition of the main building adjacent to Graham Street and City Road.

Could you please confirm the status of the whole project, and when we are likely to see demolition and construction begin of the tall building?"

Here's some of the latest news in the commercial London property market for you all to digest.... The article on the City of London market hotting up is particularly good news :)

US hedge fund signs up at Hammerson's Moorhouse
Letting to Chicago-based Citadel means nearly half of Moorgate building is taken
10.03.2006
By Sean McAllister
Citadel finally signed up last week to take 45,702 sq ft (4,246 sq m) on the top three floors of Hammerson and Henderson Global Investors' 324,000 sq ft (30,100 sq m) Moorhouse office scheme near Moorgate.
The Chicago-based hedge fund manager has taken a 15-year lease at the EC2 building for £55/sq ft (£592.02/sq m) with breaks at years five and 10.
Citadel will receive an 18-month rent-free period but will suffer a 16-month rent penalty if it decides to break the lease after the fifth year, and an eight-month rent penalty if it breaks the lease after year 10.
Investment management firm TT International still has 17,882 sq ft (1,661 sq m) on the 13th floor under offer, and Australian bank Macquarie continues to have 40,750 sq ft (3,786 sq m) on the second and third floors under offer.
The 10th and 11th floors, totalling 36,920 sq ft (3,430 sq m), were under offer to fellow Australian bank ANZ but are now back on the market.
The letting will enhance Hammerson's bullish mood on the City market and the prospects for Moorhouse. Hammerson has increased the Moorhouse's quoting rent by 11% from £49.50/sq ft to £55/sq ft (£532.82/sq m to £592.02/sq m).
The letting comes in the week that Hammerson announced that its overall net rental income in 2005 was up 11% on 2004 to £210.3m.
‘We won't be compromising our terms in order to let Moorhouse more quickly,' said Michael Baker, director and head of offices at Hammerson. ‘I am confident we have plenty of interest and demand.
‘The next set of negotiations and lettings will view covenant strength and length of lease just as importantly as getting the space let.'
The Citadel letting, added to the previous 99,888 sq ft (9,280 sq m) letting to German banking group HVB, means that 145,590 sq ft (13,526 sq m) of Moorhouse is let, representing 45% of the building.
A further 58,632 sq ft (5,447 sq m), or 18% of the building, is under offer.
Jones Lang LaSalle and Strutt & Parker are the letting agents.
‘The City office market has come a long way in the last six months with market conditions improving quite dramatically,' said Baker.
‘There is a lack of availability in the true City core, which means rises in rents and improvements in leasing terms are more achievable.'

Danish bank at Canary Wharf
Saxo Bank has taken its first office space in the UK at Canary Wharf Group's 40 Bank Street tower block.
10.03.2006
The Danish internet bank, which is rapidly expanding internationally, was attracted to Canary Wharf because of its proximity to London City airport, which only launched its first flights to Copenhagen in October last year.
The new Docklands Light Railway link from City airport to Canary Wharf, which opened on 5 December, puts Canary Wharf within 14 minutes of the airport.
Saxo has taken around half of level 26, totalling 11,225 sq ft (1,043 sq m), in the 32-storey building on a lease until 2013. The rent agreed has not been disclosed but is thought to be a little below £40/sq ft (£430.56/sq m).
Rod Parker, head of Docklands office agency at Atisreal, which advised Saxo, says it is the first truly mainland European bank to take space at Canary Wharf. It is also the first European office space outside Denmark that Saxo has taken.
CB Richard Ellis acted for Canary Wharf Group.
Saxo's move comes just a week after State Street Bank signed a 20-year prelease at the 375,000 sq ft (34,838 sq m) 20 Churchill Place at Canary Wharf.

Mile's better
The City market is hot again. Sean McAllister reports
10.03.2006
By Sean McAllister
The West End office market has been grabbing property headlines with talk of £100/sq ft (£1,076.40/sq m) rents on the horizon. But the City of London is quietly writing its own recovery story and evidence of rising confidence is reflected in the fact that 4.9m sq ft (455,221 sq m) of offices are being built - 2.6m sq ft (241,546 sq m) of it speculative.
Among the speculative schemes are British Land's next phase of Broadgate - the Broadgate Tower and 201 Bishopsgate - which will provide a total of 820,000 sq ft (76,180 sq m) when completed in 2008; and Hammerson's 345,000 sq ft (32,051 sq m) redevelopment of 125 Old Broad Street, which is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2007.
‘We have chosen a great time to deliver our scheme,' says Michael Baker, director and head of offices at Hammerson. ‘Now is a good time to be delivering speculative office developments in the City as, by historic standards, there is a shortage of supply.'
‘Since Christmas, developers have been dusting down their plans,' says Nick Swabey, partner at GVA Grimley. The firm calculates that, in addition to the space under construction, a further 8.3m sq ft (771,089 sq m) will be developed in the City within the next five years, including 4.7m sq ft (436,640 sq m) of speculative space.
Another 2m-3m sq ft (185,805-278,707 sq m) awaits consent. That would represent a net gain of about 6m sq ft (557,414 sq m). Swabey believes the increasing development pipeline will be matched by demand. ‘With average annual take up of 3m-5m sq ft every year since the 1980s,' he says, ‘the five-year development pipeline represents less than three years of demand.'
The driver of this confidence is not soaring take-up or record requirements but a lack of supply, which leaves the market poised for substantial rental growth.
‘Right now we're coming out of a down cycle, which happened after the stock market problems of 2001,' says Stephen Hester, chief executive of British Land, ‘and we're moving into the up cycle.
‘We're putting up some landmark new buildings, which we believe will be delivered in time to catch the maximum demand of the up cycle and before the market gets glutted.'
Mark Bourne, partner at King Sturge, says the recovery has been driven hardest by a lack of good-quality office space. ‘2006 is a turning point in the market. Rents are heading higher by the month and occupiers are now facing competition for the better-quality space.'
Total office availability at the end of 2005 amounted to 6.98m sq ft (648,458 sq m), representing a vacancy rate of 9.8%, according to CB Richard Ellis, 3.7m sq ft (343,738 sq m) of which was grade A space.
This is down 31% compared with the end of 2004 when 10.2m sq ft (947,603 sq m) was available, a vacancy rate of 13%, 4.56m sq ft (423,634 sq m) of which was grade A space.
In the second quarter of 2004, tenants requiring more than 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) could choose from 6.28m sq ft (583,426 sq m) in 55 buildings. But at the end of 2005, there was just 2.54m sq ft (235,972 sq m) in 30 buildings. For buildings with more than 100,000 sq ft (9,920 sq m) available, there was a total of 3.95m sq ft (366,964 sq m) in 21 buildings in the second quarter of 2004. But at the end of 2005 there was just 1.03m sq ft (95,689 sq m) available or about to become available across seven buildings (see chart).
There are only three buildings in the City with 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) of contiguous space.
Turning point
Options will become more scarce because of a lack of development this year. There will be only one new office building completed: Scottish Widows' and Teachers' 18-storey, 258,099 sq ft (23,978 sq m) Aldermanbury Square.
Mark McAlister, senior City agency director at CBRE, believes the fall in supply may lead to fewer leasing incentives. ‘This hardening of terms will not be consistent across the market as different landlords have different pressures to lease up,' he says, ‘but the overall trend must start to favour landlords.'
Neil Prime, head of office agency at Jones Lang LaSalle, believes Lloyds TSB's 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) letting at Standard Life's 10 Gresham Street last June was a turning point for the market. The 250,000 sq ft (23,226 sq m) building was the first large-scale development since the 2001 downturn and the letting to the bank was the first since its completion in May 2003, achieving £47.50/sq ft (£511.29/sq m). Lloyds TSB edged out Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, which had been close to agreeing terms.
‘The market didn't think Lloyds TSB had an active requirement,' says Prime. ‘They came in quickly with focus and transacted in a short period of time. Suddenly many tenants who had been taking their time to make decisions began to worry.'
This is all having a positive effect on office rents. After three years of negative rental growth between 2002 and 2004, office rents in the City rose by an average of 4.5% last year, says JLL (see table). Headline rents for prime space in the City are considered to be around £47.50/sq ft (£511.29/sq m).
But JLL forecasts 7.5% growth this year and double-digit rental growth for the following three years. Incentives are also expected to drop from a peak of 24 to 30 months rent-free in 2004 to a six-to-nine-month rent-free period in 2009.
‘Many landlords are now considering moving their rents up,' says Robert Calnan, director at JLL. ‘A number of developers are saying: "I've done some deals in a tough market but now I want better deals and am willing to wait three or four months." '
Standard Life is expected to increase its quoting rent at 10 Gresham Street from £47.50/sq ft to £52.50/sq ft (£511.29/sq m to £565.11/sq m). Swiss Re also achieved a rent of £55/sq ft (£592.02/sq m) at 30 St Mary Axe to financial company SuperDerivatives last month.
Take-up actually fell in 2005 compared with 2004 from 5.8m sq ft (538,833 sq m) to 5.2m sq ft (483,092 sq m). However, BH2 says, take-up of completed stock during 2005 was 15% higher than during 2004.
‘Take-up in 2005 was around 5.2m sq ft, of which only 11% was prelet. In 2004, that figure was about 30%,' says Neal Scambler, partner at BH2.
Hammerson's Baker remarks: ‘What we haven't seen is a big bang-style increase in take-up.' But Knight Frank estimates there was 6.72m sq ft (624,303 sq m) of demand
in the City at the end of 2005, up 29% on the previous quarter.
‘I strongly believe that those major banks still located in the city - such as UBS, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank - are going to find a situation where they are going to require more space,' says William Beardmore-Gray, partner and head of City agency at Knight Frank.
But the City office market still has a way to go before it can officially say it has recovered.
‘The key determinant for rental growth post-2006 will be the extent to which schemes that are currently under construction are leased ahead of completion,' says Scambler.
‘We need to see an element of preletting of the stock due for completion in 2007 for there not to be short-term oversupply in the City.'

The lost weekends
The City of London is virtually empty on Saturdays and Sundays. Sean McAllister reports on whether it can follow the Docklands example and attract shoppers seven days a week
10.03.2006
By Sean McAllister
The Square Mile employs more than 300,000 people, including many of the country's best-paid workers, but when they want to spend their money they head west to the bright lights of London's West End.
Yet further east in Docklands, Canary Wharf has become the envy of the Corporation of London. It has established itself as a retail destination that does not rely solely on office workers or the local population to drive trade on Saturdays and Sundays.
Apart from a few exceptions, the City is not on any shopper's retail radar at the weekend.
It serves the weekday City workers with a raft of coffee bars and sandwich shops and a smattering of shops dominated by the likes of WH Smith and Boots. But at the weekend, for the most part, it resembles a ghost town.
Peter Rees, chief planning officer at the Corporation of London, blames property agents. ‘The main problem is the poor quality of retail agents. They only give us a slice of other people's high streets. If I see another Boots, Benjy's or Clinton Cards, I'll scream.'
Rees says retail agents should target ‘upwardly mobile' retailers. ‘For years we've had to push to get retailers on the ground floor of office buildings,' he says.
‘The next hurdle is to encourage landlords not to chase the fast buck.'
He firmly believes that if the City had a good retail mix it could trade seven days a week.
‘I don't think the City is even trying to be a six-day shopping location,' says James Burt, director of central London retail at Jones Lang LaSalle. ‘The vast majority of retailers don't open on a Saturday, even in Cheapside.'
Canary takes off
However, in Canary Wharf, where 85,000 people work, retail is booming. It has 696,000 sq ft (64,660 sq m) of retail space, including four malls, which are fully let. Like the City, it benefits from a large working population, and footfall through its shopping malls totals 100,000 people a day during the week. But it has also managed to turn itself into a weekend retail destination.
Footfall is lower at the weekend: 50,000 people a day pass through the shopping malls on a Saturday and 30,000 on a Sunday. However, these people are there purely to shop. Steve Greig, associate director of retail at Canary Wharf, says Saturday is the best trading day for some of its retailers, particularly fashion stores.
‘It was a struggle to attract retailers about five years ago. Now we have a waiting list,' he says. Canary Wharf has always traded on Saturdays but only began to open on Sundays four years ago.
‘The key to Sunday trading is perseverance,' says Greig. ‘In the early days, some retailers would only trial Sunday-opening for a four-week period but you need to give it at least six months to establish new shopping habits.'
Canary Wharf benefits from a residential population of 25,000 in the Isle of Dogs, although a large number of its weekend shoppers are not local residents but people from outside Docklands.
Research by market analyst Caci shows that 54% of shoppers who visit Canary Wharf at the weekend on a shopping trip, compared with the 25% who are local residents.
It shows a fifth of the retail visitors during the week are also on a shopping trip, although 53% of the weekday shoppers are in the vicinity because they work in Canary Wharf.
“If i see another boots, benjy’s or clinton cards, i’ll scream
”
Peter Rees, Corporation of London
The Waitrose Food & Home store, which is the largest in the Waitrose portfolio at 73,000 sq ft (6,782 sq m), has had a large impact on Canary Wharf's retail credentials since it opened in September 2002.
Daniel Parr, principal consultant at Caci, says: ‘Waitrose has made the big difference towards the shift to weekend shopping,' he says.
The store sells a selection of goods from John Lewis, including homewares, electricals and furnishings, and serves more than 80,000 customers a week, up 20% on last year. Its turnover has soared by 17% in the last year.
Cheap and chic
Steven Stedman, senior director for high street agency at CB Richard Ellis, says a greater concentration of shops is needed in the City.
‘In the City there are only about 7,000 residents so you have to draw on people who work in the City during the week to come back at the weekend,' he says. ‘But you've got to give them a good reason to come.'
Hammerson's activity at Spitalfields is a step in the right direction (see box, right). And the situation is also set to change on Cheapside. Land Securities has just received planning approval from the Corporation of London for 1 New Change, which comprises 340,000 sq ft (31,157 sq m) of offices and 220,000 sq ft (20,438 sq m) of retail space across three floors.
‘We are confident that the City will become a six-day and eventually a seven-day retail destination,' says Will Moss, retail partner at Strutt & Parker, which is joint agent on LandSecs' 1 New Change scheme. ‘It won't happen immediately but the catalyst will be large schemes planned around Cheapside.'
LandSecs director Mike Hussey describes Cheapside as the West End of the City, and says he wants something different for the retail in 1 New Change, which will open in 2010, and trade at least six days a week.
Instead of a department store, the scheme will have four large retail units of more than 25,000 sq ft (2,323 sq m) to attract retailers such as Zara and H&M, which have not yet found suitably sized units in the City.
It will be joined by Legal & General's Bucklersbury House scheme nearby on Walbrook, which will provide about 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) of retail space below 1m sq ft (92,902 sq m) of offices. By the time both schemes are completed there will be a further 115,199 sq ft (10,702 sq m) of retail space within eight new or refurbished schemes in and around Cheapside.
‘I have no doubt [1 New Change] will be successful because the size of the development will attract the retailers, who will attract the shoppers,' says Chris Green, director of marketing at Hammerson.
The new retail schemes on Cheapside will hope to attract shoppers from the neighbouring boroughs of Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Southwark. Marks & Spencer at Moorgate already has a loyal Islington following on Saturdays.
‘Tourists shouldn't be underestimated,' says David Sanderson, associate partner at retail property adviser CWM. ‘There is an established flow of tourists coming across the Millennium Bridge from the Tate Modern and milling around St Paul's, but few City retailers are taking advantage of them.'
In fact, more than 700,000 people visit St Paul's Cathedral every year. Perhaps their prayers, as well as their cash, will help resurrect the City retailing prospects.
A new spin on the city
Hammerson’s development of Bishops Square next to the Old Spitalfields market in the City of London attracts shoppers seven days a week.
Opened in October 2005, the scheme comprises 750,000 sq ft (69,677 sq m) of offices let to law firm Allen & Overy and 51,000 sq ft (4,738 sq m) of retail and catering, which complements the adjoining market.
Allen & Overy is still fitting out its offices but the place is buzzing during the week with surrounding office workers and market regulars. At the weekend visitors to Old Spitalfields market, which has its busiest day on Sunday, overflow into Bishops Square.
Independent fashion shop Oscar Milo is among the retailers and there is not one high street store in sight. There is no Starbucks but French bread shop Patisserie Valerie has a store.
Chris Green, director of marketing at Hammerson, says: ‘Retail can give an office development life, vibrancy and colour – it’s about creating an environment.’

A yen to return

Japanese investors are cautiously eyeing the Square Mile again, following a long exile after getting their fingers burned in the late-1980s boom. Daniel Thomas reports

10.03.2006
By Daniel Thomas

there is one notable absence from the myriad nationalities vying for property in in the City of London investment boom. The multinational melee covers almost all areas of the globe, from the US, where the likes of Tishman Speyer are leading the charge, to the Middle East, where the Abu Dhabi royal family in particular seems to be mining bottomless pits of money.

But the Far East is still under-represented. Research released this month by King Sturge shows that last year investors from Asia accounted for the lowest share of investment of any region, at just 6% of total transactions.

This is a stark contrast to the interest the City attracted from Asia in the last investment boom of the late 1980s, when the Japanese in particular piled hundreds of millions of pounds into London property.

But the reason for their continued absence is the event that followed in the early 1990s:

a property crash that left Japanese investors struggling to stay afloat.

King Sturge partner James Beckham lived in Japan in the late 1980s, where his job was to encourage the Japanese to invest in London.

‘The last investment boom was fuelled by borrowing backed by massive land prices in Japan, which meant that Japanese investors took a double hit when the slump came,' he says. ‘For example, one private Japanese investor bought 1 Silk Street for more than £200m and had to sell it for less than £50m.'

Resurgent market

The era of weekly meetings in Tokyo airport to carry out deals ended abruptly and a massive sell-off of London property continued through the 1990s. But there are signs that Japanese investors could be returning to London and many larger investment and property agency firms are again sending out teams to explore the resurgent market.

Deals are starting to happen again. This month, Mitsui is close to completing the acquisition of 71 Queen Victoria Street, the 195,000 sq ft (18,115 sq m) home of Royal Bank of Canada, for around £115m, at a yield of around 6.3%, from DIFA (news, 17.2.06, p4).

The purchase by the conglomerate, which was one of the first Japanese companies to invest in UK property in the 1970s, would be the largest direct City investment since the last slump. At the time, Mitsui was one of the hardest hit and had to sell many of its overseas assets to raise capital to wipe a ¥1 trillion debt.

The industry is hoping that Queen Victoria Street will herald a new wave of inward investment. Felix Rabeneck, a director at Savills, which acted for Mitsui, says the conglomerate has been searching for a suitable acquisition for more than a year.

Mitsui's return is the result of the sustained recovery in the Japanese economy, which has given it the confidence and the funds to look outside the domestic market again.

‘There has been a resurgence in profit in Japan and interest rates are low,' Rabeneck says. ‘Mitsui is familiar with the UK market, which makes it very appealing, and it has connections with property advisers here.'

He adds that the UK is seen as a ‘spearhead into the rest of Europe', where the Japanese are also interested in investing.

However, he warns that one transaction by Mitsui should not be seen as the start of a late 1980s-style feeding frenzy. ‘We don't know if this deal is a one-off or the first in a series of smaller buys. Mitsui is making asset-by-asset decisions, rather than buying massively.'

Rupert Clarke, head of real estate at Hermes, which has previously worked with Mitsui, confirms that the company is taking an active interest in possible investments and developments in central London.

The hope is that Mitsui will be the first of the many big Japanese names to return to these shores. Taeko Oliver, executive director for Japanese business at CB Richard Ellis, has just returned from a trip to Japan to encourage investment in the UK. She says confidence is returning and there is more interest in investing in the UK again.

“The japanese don’t want to lose face. They were badly hurt last time
”

Taeko Oliver, CB Richard Ellis

‘It is a slow engine that is just starting up again and it will get faster and faster. The bad times have gone and the economic problems are settled. London is high on the list for Japanese investors, as they know the market, the language and the law.'

Domestic heating

Japanese property prices are climbing to near their previous record highs, leading some experts to warn that the Japanese market could be overheating. This has produced even more interest in overseas investment, particularly as Japan's economic recovery continued last year, driven by steady domestic demand.

But Oliver says Japanese investors will be cautious after the last slump, and are likely to prefer indirect property investment to direct property deals.

She says the investors CBRE met on her trip to Japan were interested in only one thing. ‘The interest now is in REITs. It is the only thing that has kept the Japanese property market going and they understand how they function.

‘When they come it is not going to be hundreds of millions of pounds, it is going to be billions. They will be major investors.'

Japanese REITs, launched in 2001, initially struggled, but have performed strongly over the past few years. The market in Japan is now oversubscribed. Yields have fallen to an average of around 4% and the Japanese have instead become enthusiastic investors in US REITs. The promise of a UK REIT will inevitably attract interest.

Yet Oliver believes some Japanese companies previously associated with the UK property market are unlikely to return, such as construction firms and larger life funds. The new investors will be from more recently formed fund management firms.

She cautions that this is not going to happen overnight. ‘They don't want to lose face. They were badly hurt by what happened last time. Memories last a lot longer in Japan.'

However, Mitsubishi Estate is one established investor that is expected to become a key City buyer again, as well as a developer - it has already completed the Paternoster Square development next to St Paul's Cathedral and is redeveloping Bow Bells House, next to Bow church. The company is looking to buy more property in the City and to syndicate its investments in Japan. Mitsubishi is also expected to exploit its position as majority owner of Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker.

CWHB partner Tim Sketchley confirms that a number of large Japanese fund managers want to buy City property to package for domestic investors through Japanese REITs.

He says: ‘The Tokyo market is as starved of stock as anywhere in the world, and investors there are looking to London and Paris for property.'

Cultural differences

Yet agents can still struggle to close deals with Japanese investors because of cultural differences.

One City office agency chief remembers holding a series of meetings with a Japanese investment company. He thought his team had established a bond, noting that the Japanese always smiled or laughed at the good-natured banter around the table. Weeks later a Japanese member of his team told him they were not laughing with him, but were smiling out of embarrassment for him.

The Japanese are also not best equipped to deal with the fierce competition now found in the London market because they generally take a long time to make decisions. With large buildings such as East India Dock now being sold in less than a week, this puts the regimented Japanese investor at a disadvantage in direct, open-auction sales.

This makes it all the more likely that the Japanese will embrace the UK REIT as enthusiastically as they did their own domestic and US versions. Having had their fingers burned through direct investment a decade ago, the Japanese are indeed back - but they are certainly not as bold.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here's the biggie.... the largest active office requirement in the UK; the whopping 400,000 sq ft requirement for Transport for London. In terms of space this represents the entire floorspace of the Natwest Tower or 30 St Mary Axe.

Yes, its THAT big.

Possible contenders? Riverside South or maybe part of North Quay in Canary Wharf (after all, TfL used to be the tenants in the Colonnade Buildings where Reuters now have their world hq). I believe that a 400,000 sq ft pre let at Riverside South would be large enough to begin construction.

Waterloo? Maybe the new triple office tower development with the iffy design that has been submitted?

Kings Cross? I think it would take too long to develop the offices there.

Stratford... a bit of a pain to get to. I think it would be a bit too peripheral. However it would certainly be symbolic of the regenerative benefits for the Olympics if a world class tenant such as TfL moved 2000 staff there. I guess TfL would be looking at the 50 story office tower that has been proposed in the masterplan for the Stratford Area as that's the only development which holds enough space for them.

In all likelihood I reckon TfL will go for either Canary Wharf or possibly the all new MAKE King's Reach Tower due to its proximity to City Hall and the accountants in More London.

I have a vested interest in where TfL (and AON) sign up to as I have a final round interview with both companies in the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transport of delight

Market buoyed as Transport for London searches for 400,000 sq ft building in ‘fringe’ spot

09.09.2005 - By Robin Marriott

Transport for London, the body responsible for the capital’s transport system, has mounted this year’s largest hunt for offices in the capital.

The government-funded body has started a search for 400,000 sq ft (37,160 sq m) in one building. It has appointed Drivers Jonas to scour ‘fringe’ locations that would be ready for 2,000 ‘corporate staff’ – managers and administrative workers – to occupy between 2008 and 2010.

This decision follows a review completed in recent weeks by Drivers Jonas on its options after a failed attempt to move in 2001.

A TfL spokesman said: ‘This search is with a view to consolidating some existing offices, although we have not yet decided which ones will be affected.’ Developers have welcomed news of TfL’s search, as corporate occupiers have been reluctant to expand in London.

Victoria, the location of TfL’s existing headquarters, has been ruled out on cost, efficiency and safety grounds. Instead, it is looking at locations such as Canary Wharf, King’s Cross, Waterloo and Stratford.

Initially, the search included all areas of London within the M25 but that has since been narrowed following Drivers Jonas’ analysis.

The spokesman said TfL’s decision to move was prompted by the need to achieve cost savings and improved efficiency, as well as a better working environment.

While TfL’s search is good news, the industry remembers how it failed to agree on a big office letting four and a half years ago.

In 2001, talks between TfL and CIT over 500,000 sq ft (46,451 sq m) at More London, next to the Greater London Authority’s building on the south bank of the Thames, broke down.

Any decision on a move would need to be ratified by the TfL board, which is chaired by London mayor Ken Livingstone.

It is also likely to attract close scrutiny from critics, particularly as its commissioner Bob Kiley has come under fire recently for supposed high costs associated with running TfL.

TfL occupies several properties. Among them is 45,000 sq ft (4,180 sq m) at Land Securities’ LandFlex property, the Empress State building in Earl’s Court, where it has a short-term lease.

Its Windsor House HQ in Victoria, where Kiley is based, is unlikely to be affected, as are nearby 55 Broadway, the headquarters of London Underground, and 200 Buckingham Palace Road next to Victoria coach station, the base for London Buses.

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Here's some more info about Bear Stearn's requirement:

Bear Stearns's London review

Bear Stearns is undertaking a strategic review of its London office that could lead to its departure from 1 Canada Square in Canary Wharf.

27.01.2006

The US investment bank occupies 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) at Canary Wharf and wants to expand into up to 150,000 sq ft (13,935 sq m).

It has asked CB Richard Ellis to lead the review.

Among the options are moving from its building into another at Canary Wharf, or moving into the City of London.

It could also take additional accommodation at 1 Canada Square.

Meanwhile, Canary Wharf Group expects to hear next week whether insurer Aon is to choose the Docklands scheme for its 275,000 sq ft (25,548 sq m) office base.

The company has identified Canary Wharf as the favourite option for its relocation, although it could also opt to stay in its existing building in the City.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Possible contenders? Riverside South, maybe part of North Quay in Canary Wharf (after all, TfL used to be the tenants in the Colonnade Buildings where Reuters now have their world hq.

Waterloo? Maybe the new triple office tower development with the iffy design that has been submitted?

Kings Cross? I think it would take too long to develop the offices there.

Stratford... an bit of a pain to get to. I think it would be a bit too peripheral. However it would certainly be symbolic if TfL was a core tenant in the 50 story office towe that has been proposed in the masterplan for the Stratford Area. I reckon TfL will go for Canary Wharf or possibly the all new MAKE King's Reach Tower.


It does indeed sound as though CW would be their best choice...

North Quay is a bit problematic due to Cross Rail, and the towers themselves are being redesigned - however, I could certainly see them taking Riverside South, or the Churchill Place buildings, or one of the midrises planned for the area.

I think it's more likely that the TFL will take the space in Broadgate Tower at this point.

Nothing else is going to be ready in the time frame they want.

I think Broadgate Tower might be too expensive as its in the City. Rents would be 50-60 pounds per sq ft compared to 40-45 at Canary Wharf. Thats a 20% saving on rent. TfL is a government agency not an investment bank and I guess is rather more conservative when splashing out on property. But if they went for Broadgate that'd be fine by me.

Yeah it's very expensive but the stuff at King’s Cross, Waterloo and Stratford isn't guaranteed to be finished between 2008 and 2010, and there isn't a chance in hell they'll get Riverside South with the amount of big banks looking at it right now.

For a scheme to be that big & finished by 2008-2010 it would need to start this year realistically.

I can therefore only think of RS & Minerva skyscraper wise which could start that soon as RS is an empty plot & Minerva could start demolishing the old office block tomorrow.

Stratford is too far & anyway theres no firm planning aps for a building of that size yet, same for Kings X & Waterloo so that would only leave CW as a desirable location if they needed something for 2008. I dont think the churchill place buildings are big enough for 400,000sq ft & anyway isn't the biggest buildings going to be taken by state st & Aon.

There are however a fair few groundscrapers which would be that side including More 7 which is 400,000 sq ft. Im sure theres a few big schemes in the city that are that size as well, Minervas Walbrook scheme for example is 425,000sq ft & starting this summer.

As Dom has pointed out the cit is more the domain of big invesment banks & would be very expensive- I dont think theres any big gov agencies in the city, so it prob wouldn't be in the city. All the other fringe areas dont have a building big enough except CW. I'd love it to be RS but it would prob turn out to me something like More London 7 esp as its next to city hall.

. Land Securities has just received planning approval from the Corporation of London for 1 New Change, which comprises 340,000 sq ft (31,157 sq m) of offices and 220,000 sq ft (20,438 sq m) of retail space across three floors.

It will be joined by Legal & General's Bucklersbury House scheme nearby on Walbrook, which will provide about 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) of retail space below 1m sq ft (92,902 sq m) of offices.




This Bucklersbury House scheme looks like its going ot be pretty big- We should see more info on this at some point this year as it will be empty & redundant this time next year when L&G move out so they would need to get planning in asap to take advantage of this.

Theres a few storys in this weeks estates gazettes that might be off interest- can someone have a look at the issue

pg 43- tower plans revealed
43- british Waterways bottles E14 site... (would this be wood wharf ?!?)
46- 22 marsh wall- apositive marker

http://www.egi.co.uk/thisweeks_eg.asp

i read the bottom post on tfl and thought "victoria". why would this not be suitable on safety terms, though i can see why on cost. there's a nice midrise at 100 middlesex they could take, or ropemaker place.

I assume they don't want to concentrate all there office space in one area, as it would leave the organisation vunerable, if the area had to be evacuated in a terrorist attack. TFL has to be able to function if it was trying to co ordinate a mass evacuation.

Palestra, Bankside, More London? Canary Wharf possibly, but I can't see them taking a signature building like part of Riverside South. I think it would be possible for a building to be completed at Stratford or Kings Cross in time and would be useful politically. The tube took offices at CW to help kick start the development, I think this could happen again at KX or Stratford. Is the requirement for a single location? That would seem unlikely.

And here's the biggie.... the largest active office requirement in the UK; the whopping 400,000 sq ft requirement for Transport for London. .. .
09.09.2005 - By Robin Marriott--

At the latest (Feb 2006), they were said to be examining a move to Canary Wharf for up to 38,000 sqm.

At the latest (Feb 2006), they were said to be examining a move to Canary Wharf for up to 38,000 sqm.


Looking at CW website it says both 10 & 20 CP are 69,677sqm & 5CP 18,000Sqm & seeing how State St have 20 CP which is by far the bigger of the remaining buildings then surely there isn't any CP building big enough for Tfl requirements. Also as Jef has mentioned before Aon & Thomson financial might be moving to the wharf so the only building that CW could build (assuming 15 canada sq cant be built until Xrail is sorted) is RS.

Would this not be right???

Jef- a question- All those buildings CW have sold over the last year or so, is it up to the new owners to fill the space in them or does CW need to fill them even though it no longer owns them or does it still need for those complete buildings to be filled first before it can spec build????

I reckon they'll go for 15 Canada Square and the Crossrail problem will be sorted somehow. It's the only site that is 'plot ready' in terms of foundations and will easily be complete by the time tfl want to move in.

I think CW won't want to see RS go to anyone other than a big bank as their global HQ to be honest. It's too much of a prestigious building and needs to go to a big corporation for them.

What do Tfl actually do that requires such a large office?

Erm...they control the transport network in London, which is a growing company as more parts of it come under their control.

run transport for london. lol.

I reckon they'll go for 15 Canada Square and the Crossrail problem will be sorted somehow. It's the only site that is 'plot ready' in terms of foundations and will easily be complete by the time tfl want to move in.

I think CW won't want to see RS go to anyone other than a big bank as their global HQ to be honest. It's too much of a prestigious building and needs to go to a big corporation for them.I can't think of any other banks that are looking for a global HQ in London. Barclays and HSBC are spoken for.

Aren't BNP Paribas looking to expand in the UK? I'm unsure whether that further growth would be concentrated in their London Marylebone office (or the locality) or for a possible consolidation in a new skyscraper? But I can't see BNP Paribas relocating their global office to Paris - if they did then it would be a massive blow to France and Paris in the unlikely chance they did.

What do Tfl actually do that requires such a large office?

Actually I am not so sure that this is such a daft question.....
If TfL end up at CW, then one of their neighbours will be HSBC, one of the biggest banks in the world, and one of the largest corporations based in the UK. HSBC have about 8000 folks in their global HQ, approx 4x that planned for TfL. Now, I don't know how the London transport network operates, but I do not think that the bulk of functional, operational work will occur in their new office. So - why do they need 2000 people to staff principally central, administrative and management/executive positions for a transport network for only one (admitedly huge!) city, when this is about a quarter of the staff required to run one of the largest financial institutions on the planet?
Not that I am for one moment suggesting TfL is a typical over-bureacratised, overweight public sector organisation........ :)

They need somewhere to park all those bloody buses

Not sure whether you guys know this, but Bovis Lend Lease are likely to be building Leadenhall as they are in final stages of negotiation with the developer...

TFL are a big waste of tax payers money.

TFL Co-ordinate every aspect of public transportation in London, this include the Oyster scheme, billing, real time internet updates on status etc

http://www.property-week.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3064323&c=1

Ken slams ‘anti-development' London councils

Ken Livingston this week branded London local authorities as anti-development and guilty of ‘nimbyism'.

15.03.2006
By Daniel Thomas

The London mayor used MIPIM to lobby for support for his bid for greater powers over planning in London, reiterating the importance of a shift of the balance of power from the councils to the mayor.

Livingstone said the rate of planning refusals for commercial and residential development had increased across London over the past year.

He blamed a ‘spate of nimbyism', and promised improvements in the planning process should he secure greater powers over the capital.

He said that his office would evaluate every development ‘on its own merits', although he added that the onus was on developers to ensure ‘maximum development potential' from sites.

He also called on them to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Olympic Games, which he said could be highly lucrative for the private sector.

Livingstone also said the assembly of the land required in east London for the 2012 Olympics was proceeding more smoothly, although he criticised the more than 70 businesses that are still fighting the compulsory purchase of their land.

‘Businesses are dragging their feet but almost everyone is in serious negotiations,' he said. ‘There are still the "two men and a dog" outfits, though.'

Not sure whether you guys know this, but Bovis Lend Lease are likely to be building Leadenhall as they are in final stages of negotiation with the developer...

good news! The article Jonny posted in the Ropemaker Place thread reports that BL is planning construction indeed.

Not sure whether you guys know this, but Bovis Lend Lease are likely to be building Leadenhall as they are in final stages of negotiation with the developer...

yup, Construction News rumoured it about three weeks ago. Makes sense as they are building BL's Broadgate. Seems they have a good relationship, and in light of Jonny 5's earlier post about Ropemaker Place, may be in line for that one as well (in addition to 5 Aldermansbury, Austral House, Basinghall Street, 120 Wood Street and Bow Bells House), 5 projects being built by Bovis Lend Lease, and all within about 500 metres of each other. They are also involved in the demolition of a big site on the road between Liverpool Street Station and Moorgate, current name defeats me. Shouldn't drink Talisker on work nights.

That all sounds rather good

Ken has a real good point about the Olympics - I don't think any council in London realises how much impact the Games will have on the face of London. Even Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney I think just see it as this massive park on their doorstep which will increase house prices- it is so much more than that and I think a few people in high up places need to start thinking a bit bigger and start shouting with a bit of vision rather than proposing small piecemeal developments here there and everywhere that have no cohesion or masterplan.

fromic south london (http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_objectid=16809881%26method=full%26siteid=50100%26headline=we%2ddon%2dt%2dwant%2dany%2dhigh%2drise%2dbuildings-name_page.html)

Mar 14 2006

By Paul Rhys


KEN Livingstone has been told to back off by campaigners trying to protect their area from developers.

The London Mayor wants East Dulwich, along with Surrey Quays and Herne Hill, to be reclassified from suburban to urban - meaning high-rise flats up to six storeys could be built.

A planning inspector is due to rule on the classification tomorrow, and is expected to side with Southwark council. It classed the areas as suburban in its 10-year planning document, the Unitary Development Plan, in 2004, meaning only three-storey buildings could be built.

But the fear remains that Mr Livingstone would go to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to have that decision overturned, making it easier for him to meet affordable housing targets.

He has insisted there will be no large-scale changes to the area, but residents are worried.
Retired civil servant John Brunton, 63, has lived in Hawarden Grove, Herne Hill, for six years with partner Rosalind Glover, 53, a civil servant.


Mr Brunton, who is also vice-chairman of the Herne Hill Society, said he would be "extremely concerned" if the area was left open for high-rise developments.


He said: "I love the feeling of Herne Hill being a village, with a local centre. It's not something that lends itself to large-scale redevelopment."


Music teacher Martin Byatt, 49, lives in Upland Road with wife Rosie, 48, and their two children.


He said: "Having higher-rise flats would ruin the area. My feeling is that Ken is just out to get as much money and control as possible."


Estate agent Lindsay Dilley, 25, who works at Wates Residential in Lordship Lane in East Dulwich, said the area would be "spoilt" if it was reclassified.


She said: "People buy in this area for its charm, its period houses and because it's a good place to raise a family.


"High-rise developments would spoil the character and we'd probably see different types of people buying here."


Southwark council's executive member for regeneration, Lib Dem Rotherhithe councillor Jeff Hook, said the borough could meet the Mayor's demand for affordable housing without building high-density houses in the areas.


He added the council would fight its corner if Mr Livingstone took the matter further.


He said: "We are concerned he may try to overturn the decision but we'll be defending our stance."


A spokesman for the Mayor said: "We can't say anything until the decision is published."

Mar 14 2006
By Mandy Little

A PROPOSED £15million, 20-storey block is being hailed as the first step towards a town's regeneration.

Designs for the landmark building in Walmer Terrace, Plumstead, are being considered by planners.

ASRA Greater London Housing Association and Alan Camp Architects are in talks with Greenwich council after submitting proposals for the development with 119 homes.

The plans also include space for community use on the ground floor and a possible bar.

Elmgrove Elderly People's Home was on the site, but the building has been empty since the beginning of 2005.

It is considered a flagship project for ASRA. Half the homes would be affordable and it would include a variety of properties, some up to four-bedroom.

Ten per cent would be able to accommodate wheelchair users and the buildings would have solar panels in the roof to provide hot water.

Daria Wong, from the architects, said: "It is the first step in the regeneration of Plumstead and will contribute towards re-establishing Plumstead High Street as a coherent business centre."

The Southwark-based architects also worked on the conversion of the former Hartley's Jam Factory in Bermondsey.

ASRA is one of the largest housing associations providing homes exclusivley for members of minority ethnic groups. About 70 per cent of its stock is open to all and the other 30 per cent is allocated for members of the Asian community.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Theres a pic of the plumstead tower in the thumbnail pics along the top of AJ-plus website on the news section

Canary Wharf / Isle of Dogs as it was in 2005:

http://i2.tinypic.com/rlaz2u.jpg

and the model showed by SOM architects.

In the first pic, view from the east. In the middle of the pic, we can see Pan-Peninsula 1 and part of 2. There two other main towers at its left, and another one at the place of Discovery Dock East (is that brand new complex, too small for that place, about to be demolish to be replaced by a massive 145m tower?)

http://i2.tinypic.com/rlb2hw.jpg

In this one, we can clearly see Crossharbour in the foreground and Riverside South 1 & 2 in the background. Also the ArrowHead scheme marketed by Ballymore that hides part of RS (about as tall as the Willis Building to give an idea).

http://i2.tinypic.com/rlbd04.jpg

A reminder of RS 1&2 as viewed from the west. Huge.

http://i2.tinypic.com/rlb9jp.jpg

And finally North Quay as well and Riverside in the skyline.

http://i2.tinypic.com/rlc4cg.jpg

:lol: I have inverted the pics

little bit of news form the Times

"Land Securities has appointed CB Richard Ellis to search for a new headquarters"

No you would've thought LandSecs would know a thing or two about where to look for a new HQ- If they need a hand I can recommend a few big projects that might interest them (nothing by British Land though) lol :)

In that photo of CW ypu posted jef, where would the pan peninsula towers stand?

Do you see the bright green area near the centre of the photo? Just above and to the right of it is a light brown area with a little crane leaning across it. This is where PP towers will be.

In that photo of CW ypu posted jef, where would the pan peninsula towers stand?

http://i1.tinypic.com/rmi6jb.jpg
http://i1.tinypic.com/rmi5us.jpg

All those buildings CW have sold over the last year or so, is it up to the new owners to fill the space in them or does CW need to fill them even though it no longer owns them or does it still need for those complete buildings to be filled first before it can spec build????

It is up to the new owners to decide whether they want to put any vacant space on the market or not. However, most of these buildings that Songbird Estates sold were fully let. The buildings with vacant spaces left are essentially owned by Songbird Estates in the CW estate (in 40 Bank Street and 1 CS). Investors are interested in buying these buildings once they are fully let (e.g The US Teacher Union, that bought one the building).

Riverside South 1 & 2 are 166,000 sqm of office space. I did not know it was that much (The shard is "only" 54,000 sqm). Probably, they will need a large pre-letting or several pre-lets before construction can start. And there are still 15CS (55,000 sqm) and 5 Churchill place (20,000 sqm) left for construction.

jef, from reading the planning application of rs i noticed though that it seems possible to build it in two phases just as the citigroup hq was done.

That sounds good. Hope they will first build these instead of 15 CS and 5 CP.

Reg. RS it was also indicated in the report that the estimated occupation date is 2010.

Slightly off topic. Just seen "V for Vendeta" by the guys who did the Matrix movies - really great scenes of London, the city, Gerkin and BT tower (that they tried to blow up) really, really fantastic movie (watch for the anti-Bush undertone).

Thx for your help jef and jake :)

Bankside 3 webcam has relocated to face South-East. It could double as a LBT-webcam in the future!

http://i1.tinypic.com/rs7a5d.jpg

good finding indeed. It is due to be finished in 2007 so we should see Soutwhark Towers being demolished.

You can even see the Willis Building on one of the Bankside webcams:
http://www.bankside2and3.co.uk

Estates Gazette reports that 700 of the 900 apart-hotel rooms have sold in the Galliard Homes scheme on the site of that awful concrete monstrosity between Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Station.

Expect to see some action on site fairly soon then. Probably take ages to demolish the concrete mess.

Jimbo -did u see an articel on pg 31 -the website says 'Green light for vauhall' does this relate to the twin tower proposals??

http://www.egi.co.uk/thisweeks_eg.asp

Jimbo -did u see an articel on pg 31 -the website says 'Green light for vauhall' does this relate to the twin tower proposals??

http://www.egi.co.uk/thisweeks_eg.asp

that would be excellent! I love those towers!

Found a good pic of them:

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool00/54/48/6F/30/77/16/11/DA/85/15/20/23/52/27/29/83/10/E6A4B760B8EF11DA93E4635A52272983.jpg

here's lambeth in 1997!

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/845LambethSkylinein1997_pic1.jpg

ooh do a rendering on that one !

Bankside 3 webcam has relocated to face South-East. It could double as a LBT-webcam in the future!

http://i1.tinypic.com/rs7a5d.jpg

You can see Tabard Square (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=322706) in the background, on the right.

that would be excellent! I love those towers!

Found a good pic of them:

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool00/54/48/6F/30/77/16/11/DA/85/15/20/23/52/27/29/83/10/E6A4B760B8EF11DA93E4635A52272983.jpg

WOW! Vauxhall will be selling the concept of high rise living for decades with these beauts on the horizon!

Surely there hasn't been time for these towers to go through planning? I can't find anything about a decision on this on Lambeth's website, including today's report of planning office recommendations. I'm guessing it's just CABE giving it's approval. I would bet against it getting approval without going to appeal (not that it isn't worthy).

Jimbo -did u see an articel on pg 31 -the website says 'Green light for vauhall' does this relate to the twin tower proposals??

http://www.egi.co.uk/thisweeks_eg.asp

ah, it was one of my quick lunchtime trips to WH Smith and I probably zipped straight over it in search of pretty pictures to report back on. Good news, these two towers are considerably superior to the Vauxhall Tower @ St George's Wharf IMO. Will be quite a cluster indeed. It does look slightly better with the other two along side though.

News on a possible redevelopment of waterloo station whcih may start as early as 2008

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2077

Much of Waterloo's problems from my perspective stem from the poor pedestrian and vehicular access along York Rd. With the redevelopment of Elizabeth house and the closing of Waterloo International, hopefully many of the current access issues can be addresed.

anyone know about this development -
http://www.oxygen.co.uk/
the only reason i do is because they are advertising on skyscrapernews. we'd have stuck them in the database for nothing if they'd asked. lol.

built in coffee machines?!?!

it appears so. the only thing missing is lcd monitors ni the kitchen dedicated to showing masterchef and nothing else.

It's down in Royal Victoria Dock I think it's under construction now.

dp you know who the developer is?

Barratt I think...

yep think it is Barratt and it is located next to Capital East (also barratt ?)just inside the Excel site and it is under construction.

yep think it is Barratt and it is located next to Capital East (also barratt ?)just inside the Excel site and it is under construction.

Has anybody heard of another development nearby to this which is around 24 storeys- I saw a pick in AJ last year sometime of a really nice curved blue looking tower but thats all I remember- The article said it would form a marker for the royal victoria Docks as it doesn't have any tall buildings.

I haven't heard of anything since - It would be a bit of a shame if it didn't get built as whats around excel couldv'e been designed with a ruler!! This Oxygen scheme is around the 18 storey mark but its a shite looking block with as much apartments as they can cram on the plot.

http://www.oxygen.co.uk/

Can anyone tell me if this is in for proper planning permission as the application says formal observations. Is it also taller than earlier reported at 54 storeys & 173.2m

http://194.168.41.26/cgi-bin/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPSESSION=%7B%5B%2A%211B3B37163D3D352B2218373C7977747C7F636372681C081E01121F00791C2E213B766000142F262B3C7660001429241E23323C2B2D20261C2A343B36302B337F7D6264%21%2A%5D%7D

Formal Observations?? maybe to test local opinion :?

Yes but if it was formal observations then why would it be lodged in planning applications??? they had a public consultation on this last year & you would've thought they already been consulting Southwark behind the scenes so would leave a planning application until last.

Bit weird??? Do we have any planners on the forum lo

Now that Castle house has approval I had a quick tally in my head about whats approved in London over 100m & came up with 22. I reckon we wont see a period in London where a tall building over 100m isn't under construction for a good few years esp as theres a mix of resi & offices in various locations around London. Roll on the good times!!! :)

City-
122LH
Minerva
Broadgate tower
100 Middlesex
Heron tower
Heron plaza

docklands
RSx2
Columbus
Pan P
22Marsh wall
Arrowhead Quay
Crossharbour tower
Reuters Towers

Elsewhere
LBT
St Georges Wharf
Multiplex E&C
lots road x2
City rd basin
Pioneer pt
Stratford Gate

Add to this what we know is in planning
Beetham
DIFA
NQx2
Doon St
20 FC st
vauxhall towersx2

So 22 approved & 8 in planning

I also have a quick list of potential ones we know about but haven't gone for PP
Wilkinson Eyre Blackfriars
Hammerson Northgate
2nd city rd basin (taller tower)
Vauxhall Bondway
30 storey barbican

Thats a staggering 30 approved or in planning over 100m with another potential 4 in for planning by the end of the year- I've prob missed a couple out & got the heights wrong but thats quite a list & shows how far London has come since 2000!!

Anyone know what's happening with the new News International tower?

EGi saying KPMG in talks to take 37000m² in Canary Wharf. Where will that be?

(Where's jef when we need him?)

Anyone know what's happening with the new News International tower?

The last I heard it went in for a re-design because EH complained it spoiled the view of Tower Bridge from the South Bank.

Never mind the fact that view was ruined decades ago but that hideous 1970s Tower Thistle Hotel.

I've never a rendering of these towers, only small pencil sketches. Didn't look anything spectacular but I guess it'll be nice to have a mini cluster down there.

EGi saying KPMG in talks to take 37000m² in Canary Wharf. Where will that be?

(Where's jef when we need him?)


According to Jefs post a bit back


"Riverside South 1 & 2 are 166,000 sqm of office space. I did not know it was that much (The shard is "only" 54,000 sqm). Probably, they will need a large pre-letting or several pre-lets before construction can start. And there are still 15CS (55,000 sqm) and 5 Churchill place (20,000 sqm) left for construction."


And looking at the CW website there doesn't seem to be that much space left in the CP buildingsafter state sts taking 20CP. 37,000sqm would prob take up most of the space left as KPMG would want a whole building to themselves & not spread amongst several buildings so realistically they would take 10 CP or 15CS- BUT Aon are suppsoed to be taking space there.

Either way if its confirmed then practically all the space would be taken in CW leaving RS next on the to do list :)

Just found this

http://www.freemansnews.com/mainstory.asp?3472438

Songbird said a new 400,000 sq ft purpose built and designed building will be provided in 2009 to replace the space currently occupied by KPMG in Canary Wharf.

And this oldish news about Aon

http://www.canarywharf.com/mainFrm1.asp?strSelectedArea=News

Aon UK, one of the UK’s leading insurance broking, risk and human capital consulting firms ('Aon'), and Canary Wharf, today announce that they have jointly entered into exclusive negotiations regarding a potential new London office for Aon.

With Aon’s lease due to expire through 2007 to 2009 in its current London premises in Devonshire Square, Aon had been exploring potential location options.

Under the terms of the exclusivity agreement, both parties are precluded from publicly discussing specific details, however, it can be confirmed that Aon is seeking approximately 255,000 square feet of office space in a purpose built headquarters building at Canary Wharf.

255,000 ? That's more than Riverside South! North Quay? Where else is there?

255,000 SQ Feet not Metres :doh:

Hmm I really want Riverside South to be built, but these are big, presitigous clients that are choosing CW over the city, and I can see this happening more and more in the future.

Finally time for the CoL to do something and offer a bit more to potential tennants

Just found this

http://www.freemansnews.com/mainstory.asp?3472438

Songbird said a new 400,000 sq ft purpose built and designed building will be provided in 2009 to replace the space currently occupied by KPMG in Canary Wharf.



400,000 sq feet? That is 122,000 sq meters, It would have to be pretty tall. Could we see a 200m+ building? 122,000 is more than Citigroup, HSBC, and s nearly as big as 1 canada square. Unless they wanted to spread it over more than one building, it would have to be tall.

er... not it isnt. lol. 1 square feet = 0.09290304 square meters. remember its square.

Oh, my bad. So it's only 37,000sqm.

Now that Castle house has approval I had a quick tally in my head about whats approved in London over 100m & came up with 22. I reckon we wont see a period in London where a tall building over 100m isn't under construction for a good few years esp as theres a mix of resi & offices in various locations around London. Roll on the good times!!! :)

City-
122LH
Minerva
Broadgate tower
100 Middlesex
Heron tower
Heron plaza

docklands
RSx2
Columbus
Pan P
22Marsh wall
Arrowhead Quay
Crossharbour tower
Reuters Towers

Elsewhere
LBT
St Georges Wharf
Multiplex E&C
lots road x2
City rd basin
Pioneer pt
Stratford Gate

Add to this what we know is in planning
Beetham
DIFA
NQx2
Doon St
20 FC st
vauxhall towersx2

So 22 approved & 8 in planning

I also have a quick list of potential ones we know about but haven't gone for PP
Wilkinson Eyre Blackfriars
Hammerson Northgate
2nd city rd basin (taller tower)
Vauxhall Bondway
30 storey barbican

Thats a staggering 30 approved or in planning over 100m with another potential 4 in for planning by the end of the year- I've prob missed a couple out & got the heights wrong but thats quite a list & shows how far London has come since 2000!!

..and the two PAddington Basin towers and the other 22 storey res there!

ok... new street square is abotu to have the final building start construction according to land sec.

Songbird will go before the committee next tuesday for the proposed redevelopment of Cabot Square and Cabot Hall. Apparently these installations that were built in 1990 need to be adapted to match the existing (strong) demand. In short it consists in the reconfiguration of existing retail units, the addition of new retail space and a restaurant unit, and the change of the existing car park to form a number of retail units.

They have also published today their annual results 2005:

- the vacancy rate of CW Group's property portfolio stood at 10.4% at 31 Dec 2005 compared to 13.5% at 31 Dec 2004. In particular, it remains 435,000 sq ft of space not let in 40 Bank Street and 177,000 sq ft not let at 25-30 Bank Street.

- Canary Wharf looks forwards to successfully conclude the deal with Aon for a new purpose built HQ building at 10 Churchill Place. State Street is taking 20 Churchill Place. These buildings are capable of development totalling in excess of 600,000 sq ft in which State Street and Aon would thus take 555,000 sq ft. Works have commenced on both 10 and 20 Churchill Place for completion in 2008.

- 15 Canada Square (650,000 sq ft) and 5 Churchill Place (200,000 sq ft) have been constructed at Street Level (for a while). Other development sites are Riverside (1,8 million sq ft, planning permission), North Quay (2,4 million sq ft, conditional planning permission), and there is further development capacity on Heron Quays West (subject to planning application).

- construction of Wood Wharf in which CW has a 25% interest is envisaged to commence in 2008 (6.5 million sq ft of residential, commercial and retail development)

Regarding KPMG, I reckon that only 15 Canada Square and Riverside South could satisfy the requirement of a new 400,000 sq ft purpose built and designed building due for completion in 2009 - unless 15 Canada Square is kept on hold because of the compulsory purchase of the site by Crossrail. I do not know the latest about that.

^ Very useful info Jef - thanks for posting.

so they are gonna build 15 canada square and 5 churchill place yeah?

15CS is the only other site, other than RS which would be big enough for KPMG- I thought it was abit strange that 15CS couldn't be built due to Xrail as its not near the tunnels & theres already taller buildings to th west & east of it. Part of me is wishing it cant be built & they start on RS but if it is 15CS then at least the only alternative for CW to go next is RS :)

Minerva have released there accounts for 2005- off there 3 major developements- Wallbrook will be starting this year, Park Place in Croydon next year & Minerva??? It takes a big share of the report but it still looks like it will be in ther mid term strategy so probably a couple of years off still. They are still reconfiguring the internal spaces (which we knew already) & will prob mean they will go for a multi-let building.

They could on the other hand just sell up to Brit Land or Land Secs :)

http://www.minervaplc.co.uk/files/financialreport/2078/full_report_2005.pdf

The "Elecktron" two 67m and one 76m towers have commenced construction on Aspen Way. Demolition of the eletricity sub-station is complete and piling work was definately under way yesterday adding to the mini cluster forming around Blackwall. Now only the Rueters towers remain to start to complete this eastern gateway to the Isle of Dogs.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/bdbsearch.php?qns=elektron&x=0&y=0


Will could you update the front page?



.

do you know which tower is u/c first at eleckton, which part of the site is it cabby, west or east?

the biggest pile driver is at the western end of the site, saying that i think there is another one on the eastern end as well :)

the tallest tower goes on the western end...

here is a render I found on 5 Churchill place -
http://www.canarywharfoffices.com/gallery/5churchill/1.jpg

and one of 15 Canada sq :)
http://www.canarywharfoffices.com/gallery/15canada/2.jpg

Both look very nice, I am glad to see some a non-glass box type building for 15 Canada Sq

The first rendering is of either 10 or 15 Churchill Place and the second is of 5 Churchill Place. You can see the old 15 Canada Square design in the background of the second image

ok... new street square is abotu to have the final building start construction according to land sec.

285,000 sq ft. ready in 2008. Is Deloitte taking this one or another one?

Tishman Speyer and Insight Investment Management are buying 1 Plantation Place for £527m.

Hopefully British Land can concentrate on some other office schemes now!

oops yes Jonny is right, the site i got them off has them around the wrong way as well :)

I believe this map represents the future Churchill Place (CP):

http://i1.tinypic.com/s4m2au.jpg

20 CP (State Street) will comprise approximately 300,000 sq ft of office space above ground plus ancillary space: a main 12-storey block to the north, "clad in natural stone alternating with clear glass wndows in a vertical rythm expression", and a "4-storey podium wing to the south of primarily clear glass curtain wall".

10 CP will comprise approximately 255,000 sqft of office space above ground (12 storey, possibly Aon). Both 10 and 20 PC are under construction. 5 CP is 200,000 sqft (also 12-storey).

This maps is different from the map shown on the Canary Wharf website - the latter has not yet been updated. For example, 10 CP is represented as a large block in the old design and 20 CP does not have a podium at is southern part.

http://i1.tinypic.com/s4m4vp.jpg

The new Crossrail station (if built) will be constructed within a 475m long concrete bow with a 245m long island patform. 15 Canada Square is adjacent to the proposed Station construction site and the proposed location of the spoil conveyer. The possible use of a compulsory purchase order is only related to North Quay and part of 5 CP (to be used as worksites), and not 15CS as I wrongly reported in a previous post. 15 CS could thus host KPMG and construction is already made up to road level. On the other hand, I reckon that it does not make much sense for KPMG to prelet 15CS in the event that major Crossrail works are going on adjacent sites for at least 5 years (??). What I also believe is that in case KPMG takes 15CS, then CW will start the construction of the sub-structure of Riverside South (as they did for 15 CS and 5CP)because these are the only sites left for building purpose build HQs. This would enable Canary Wharf to complete these developments within a shorter time once they have found a major tenant.

A render of the isle of dogs station with HSBC tower on the right and Barclays behind. The gap is the site of 15 Canada Square. Work on crossrail is scheduled to start in 2007 for at least 6 years. Because of the proximity with this huge station (245m long island platform within a 475 long concrete box) and nearby worksites I am still puzzled that KPMG would be willing to take 15 Canada Square. In addition tunnelling work may conflict with the foundations of 15 CS and affect the stability of the building (that's reported by CW in their petition agains the Crossrail Bill).

http://i1.tinypic.com/s5wuxg.jpg
http://i1.tinypic.com/s5wwme.jpg

It is also reported in the planning application for Riverside that "The building form consists of three distinct buildings, two towers rising to 219.54 metres (AOD) and 194.24 metres (AOD), and a lower central link building of 52.4metres (AOD) ... with an estimated occupation date target of 2010". I would be interested to know how many sq ft of office space are available in the lower tower (around 700,000 sqft?) because it does not seem to contain much more space than 15 Canada Square (650,000 sq ft), in which case it would make sense for KPMG to take Riverside.

Just an update on the towers we know about. The list is getting ridiculously long now...



Green = Completed
Blue = Proposed/Approved
Red = Under Construction


London Bridge Tower ("Shard London Bridge") - 310m
Bishopsgate Tower - 288m
Minerva - 247m
Heron Tower - 242m
Columbus Tower - 237m
1 Canada Square- 235m
122 Leadenhall- 225m
Beetham Tower - 219m
North Quay 1 - 216m
Riverside South 1- 214m
Heron Quays West 1 - 214m
North Quay 3 - 203m
8 Canada Square (HSBC Global Headquarters) - 200m
25 Canada Square (Citigroup Centre) - 200m
20 Fenchurch Street - 192m
Allies & Morrison Tower - 190m (approx. height)
Riverside South 2 - 189m
BT Tower - 188m
Tower 42 (NatWest Tower) - 183m
St George's Wharf - 181m
Vauxhall Bondway Tower - 180m
SwissRe ("The Gherkin") - 180m
Wilkinson Eyre Tower - 176m
Vauxhall Cross Island Tower - 170m
Stratford City Tower - 170m
Doon Street Tower - 168m
Bevis Marks Tower - 168m
Greenwich View Place - 165m
Broadgate Tower - 164m
1 Milharbour Scheme A - 160m
Grand Union Building - 158m (inc. spire)
Barclays Bank HQ - 156m
Heron Quays West 2 - 156m
25 Bank Street- 153m
40 Bank Street - 153m
10 Upper Bank Street - 151m
Pan Peninsula Tower - 147m
Multiplex Tower - 147m
Crossharbour Tower - 136m
51 Lime Street (Willis Building) - 125m


http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers2/london2012/25.jpg

Will perhaps you can add the "Warki-Talkie" and an indication of where the 88 Bishopsgate thing will be.

It a shame you won't see LBT on that view, or am i mistaken?

and broadgate needs to be red on your list, the tag is wrong ;)

88 Bishopsgate would fill the gap between Heron and SwissRe in that view.

LBT would appear just off the right edge of the photo.

Not sure exactly where 20 Fenchurch would go.

About the KPMG plans to move to Canary Wharf into a new purpose built and designed building, the KPMG spokesman Gavin Houlgate said "It's just outline discussions, there's nothing signed -- there's no site, no (building) design". He confirmed however that KPMG has agreed to enter into detailed discussions with Canary Wharf Group for pre-letting 400,000 sq ft. Under the plan, two thirds of KPMG's London-based staff would be located in the new building from 2009, although the company would maintain a central London presence at Blackfriars.

what does he mean by "there's no site, not (building) design"? The sites are either 15 Canada Square (designed by SOM) or Riverside South (designed by Richard Rogers). ???

Talking about one of the Wood Wharf office towers maybe?

Very nice to read all this info today...Many thanks ...jef...Cabman...London Lad and all

I was also thinking about that ... but KPMG entered into detailled discussions with Canary Wharf. Wood Wharf is a joint-venture in which Canary Wharf only have a 25% interest.

If the building is due for completion in 2009, KPMG would have to decide fairly soon. Is it possible to modify the design of either 15CS or Riverside without a new pp? and to what extent?

I've found some pics of the exciting 170-metre Canary Wharf super-yacht. Marketing has commenced. The vessel will feature 180 rooms, including 22 outstanding suites. The website: http://www.aquiva.co.uk/Home

First, the super-yacht next to Wood Wharf:

http://i2.tinypic.com/s614zm.jpg

Second, the super-yacht with behind Barclays (left) and the new towers of Wood Wharf (under design):

http://i2.tinypic.com/s617i0.jpg

Now, as viewed from Wood Wharf. Pan-Peninsula Towers will feature in the background.

http://i2.tinypic.com/s6189c.jpg

Now close up on the super-yacht:

http://i2.tinypic.com/s61tn5.jpg

http://i2.tinypic.com/s61tvt.jpg

http://i2.tinypic.com/s61u68.jpg

That is one super yacht.

yes but whats the point of Yacht that doesnt sail anywhere, seems an aweful waste to me.

This should be interesting. The City has HMS Belfast, while Canary Wharf can have a luxury super-yacht. :)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Hms.belfast.london.arp.jpg/776px-Hms.belfast.london.arp.jpg

A narrow boat costs about £40k. I was thinking of selling up and buying one. Is there a place to park it at CW (I might not have the seadog lingo yet)? Are there life jackets for cats? Where does all the poo go?

That yacht is amasing, when will it be built?

Aquiva received planning consent for this new application in November 2005. They say that this super-yacht hotel has been specifically designed to suit the location. It gives an idea of the salary at Canary Wharf.

yes but whats the point of Yacht that doesnt sail anywhere, seems an aweful waste to me.

It adds character to the docklands and retains that sense of the history of the place, but in a modern way.

I actually wish more boats were on the Thames - a few historically remade ships for a sort of a Physical Maritime Museum around Canary Wharf would change the area.

Thats something the whole docklands lack- boat moorings for yachts etc, sydney,auckland & most oher cities with large spaces of water always seem to have lots of boats big & small tied up. CW does very little with its dock areas with very little life on the water bare a couple of boats- In fact im sure because of what they have built such as some of the bridges I dont think you can get many boast in the quays around CW.

This hotel will add a bit of life to the docks.

Anyone know when it will happen?

i believe this is done for security reasons, they are paranoid about boat bombs. im not joking sadly.

That's one helluva boat!

Evening team! I went running from London Bridge to the far end of Rotherhithe this arvo and went past the rather fascinating Chambers Wharf just beyond Bermondsey Wall East. It seems like an amazing development opportunity and was wondering if anyone was aware of any proposals?

A google search uncovered nothing apart from my discovering the absolutely wonderful derelictlondon.com website. There's few things more interesting than industrial urban dereliction IMO. I particularly enjoyed the graffitti saying 'Build your helipad in your back garden not ours'!

I was just looking at the "skyline lighting schemes" in the citytalk and urban issues section of the site and wondered what your opinions on Canary Wharf being extravagantly lit at night? I think it looks fantastic. Swiss Re as a xmas tree anyone or this pic:

http://www.art2architecture.co.uk/alighted/canary.jpg

Imagine Canary Wharf with different colours at the top of each tower but in a scheme that worked well like that in HK. Would look fantastic :cheers:

I reckon city airport would stop things like that. Might impair the vision of pilots coming in to land :(

damn city airport :bash: :gaah:

Yup but they don't fly all night.

Three more floors under offer at 30 Ste Mary Axe (25, 27, and 31). The tower is now almost fully let (4 small floors left).

I've found this updated map of CW estate showing Heron Quay West http://i1.tinypic.com/se0t1s.jpg. It is said to be under design. It looks like two linked tower. what was the original design?

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/52HeronQuaysWestTower1_pic1.jpg

I've found this updated map of CW estate showing Heron Quay West http://i1.tinypic.com/se0t1s.jpg. It is said to be under design. It looks like two linked tower. what was the original design?

Just the generic shape they are using. In most 3d models i've seen they use a 10 Upper Bank Street clone.

I doubt they're working on any design yet. They've got plenty of other towers in the works right now.

^^ I love those towers. + they are right next to riverside south and look like they will be the same height! (214m hopefully)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/52HeronQuaysWestTower1_pic2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/52HeronQuaysWestTower1_pic3.jpg

pics from skyscraper news

Is 'The Blade' the new 'Spire'?

I would love these to be built even more than RS :) I love the colours and the facade overruns :) The tallest one looks like Beetham Manc only finished to a higher standard and taller as well :) However lookling at the location on that map so of the dock would have to be reclaimed before any work could go ahead :eek:

I do hope we dont get the situation we had with RS whereby we got a earlier deisgn with its spires etc & ended up with a watered down version.

The paddington basin/waterside website has been updated to include merchant square- Its a largely forgotten development this one- Construction fo the next phase is underway but you would be none the wiser.

http://www.paddingtonwaterside.co.uk/thedevelopment/w_developmentmap.htm

I was travelling out of Paddington Station earlier today, for the first time for ages, and it looked to me like they have started phase 2 of Paddington Central (i.e. just West of the modern green glass buildings of Sheldon Square). There was one huge floor/platform, which I guess would support more than a single building. Anyone else seen it and know what it really is?

Interesting Article on Marks Barfields Architects (designers of the London Eye)- gives a list of there new projects including aspiralling radar tower along the Thames & they might be redesigning there Skyhose concept...and that they are gong to annouce something big at the end of the month.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1740429,00.html

ive had their skyhouse redesign since battle macarthy sent it to me about 2 yeasr ago. i should upload it.

^^ please do! I was a big fan of the old design...

Skyhouse team says: "There were certain things that we didn't appreciate at the time," Marks admits. "Such as the capacity of the market to absorb 900 houses at one time. We're much wiser about that now. It's probably time to dust it off and bring it up to date."

slaves to the market over something as important as housing... not good

well potto, as no govt agency or council would put up the money they HAVE to be. its a bit unfair to shoot the messenger, they came up with something and the powers that be are not interested in it - everything is market, market, market.

More the pity for our citizens - I remember a time when a councils main priority was to house people, hence the tower blocks across the country. I remember when tramps (homeless people) were so rare that we all knew them by name. It is yet another example of the False economy ie. we will all pay somehow. Lets hope something good happens fast.

we dont all pay though. thats the lie. once upon a time we did through the tax system, now the people who pay are the people who need it.

I dont mean paying financially..I mean society will become poorer..some of us are already living in gated communities, we will fractionalise...we will end up like the good old US of A.

well potto, as no govt agency or council would put up the money they HAVE to be. its a bit unfair to shoot the messenger, they came up with something and the powers that be are not interested in it - everything is market, market, market.

Yeah, I meant we are all slaves to the market, therefore as society we lack a mechanism to gain a useful level of control over such a basic requirement as housing.

The fact that we are so desperate for cheaper housing in most of the UK and this innovative team cant get investment for a solid proposal to build 900 high density units, because developers elsewhere won't be able to milk the fact that we have the desire to protect our countryside, is quite a sad indicment of our current situation.

Relating to what pottos been saying- Barrett have annouced anew housing concept -basically very small but they have tried to dress it up by making it 'funky' with an ipad name.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9064-2110156,00.html

Surely a housing association or whoever could get a plot of land somewhere & develop a skyhouse- Everyone, particuarly at the bottom of the property ladder is crying out for somewhere affordable to live & surely skyhouse is the answer- build tall -maximise denisty & dwellings?!??

News on a revised tunneling option for Xrail-

http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/thisweek/news/tm_objectid=16880889%26method=full%26siteid=71670%26headline=all%2dchange%2dfor%2dcrossrail-name_page.html

Under proposals now put to Mayor Ken Livingstone, the major tunnelling in east London would be launched from a shaft located between Canary Wharf and Custom House, at the Limmo Peninsula in Blackwall, and will bore all the way to Farringdon instead of stopping at the Isle of Dogs station, planned for Canary Wharf.

Not sure if this would mean 15CS & NQ could be built sooner or not.

Limmo Peninsual is a nature reserve next to Canning Town.

How nice of Brick Lane residents to warrant its destruction.

Limmo Peninsual is a nature reserve next to Canning Town.

How nice of Brick Lane residents to warrant its destruction.


Where is Limmo Peninsual in relation to Pura Foods whose plant I noticed has been closed and is being demolished? I also noticed some land being cleared adjacent to Pura Foods next to the Lea estuary. Will the nature reserve be restored afterwards? Quite frankly if it can a shaft next to large main roads around Blackwall is far better than the confined streets around Whitechapel.

Anyone see Galloway on the Politics show, arguing against Crossrail. He has to turn every issue into class warfare. He's a Moron, couldn't give a crap about London, just pandering to his consituents to keeps himself in power. Now because of this we'll be destorying a nature reserve?

Not sure if it has already been shown here, Barrat has submitted a PA in Brentford on the redundant GSK site close to the M4.

Wallis House
25 storeys (down from 30)
Architects : Assael

http://www.assael.co.uk/images/MIXED_USE/NorthBrentfordQuarter/GWQ3.jpg


Part of the Great West Quarter
http://www.assael.co.uk/images/MIXED_USE/NorthBrentfordQuarter/GWQ2.jpg

Anyone see Galloway on the Politics show, arguing against Crossrail. He has to turn every issue into class warfare. He's a Moron, couldn't give a crap about London, just pandering to his consituents to keeps himself in power. Now because of this we'll be destorying a nature reserve?

I saw him getting on a Victoria line train in Oxford Circus the other day, what an idiot! :bash:

[QUOTE=Manuel]Not sure if it has already been shown here, Barrat has submitted a PA in Brentford on the redundant GSK site close to the M4.

Wallis House
25 storeys (down from 30)
Architects : Assael

http://www.assael.co.uk/images/MIXED_USE/NorthBrentfordQuarter/GWQ3.jpg


PLEASE tell me they are not planning to knock down the Beecham Tower on the Great West Road, its not the best example, but never-the-less its tall and Art Deco!

I live on Brentford Lock, got nice view of GSK from my flat. It's actually starting to become quite a nice little skyline by the M4 now. I don't know the names of the buildings (other than the GSK one)

@Jorgen
I think Wallis House was listed in 2003...but I'm not sure.

Yes, it was listed in Nov 2003.
I'll post some images from this area in the 'Skyscrapers and Skylines' forum when time.

There is this midrise opposite GSK which has topped out I think. Don't know what it is called though, anyone?

Taken 2 weeks ago:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/supertek/IMGP0131.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/supertek/IMGP0130.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/supertek/greatwestrd.jpg


Foster's billboard tower in centre. What is the building to the left? (with huge poster):
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/supertek/IMGP0132.jpg

Ok, I think this was the original Livesey O'Malley design for the tower opposite GSK - The Pinnacle at 141m. It was feared that it would overlook Kew so the current 55m building was approved. Shame really.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/82ThePinnacle_pic1.jpg

Actually, I think I'm wrong about The Pinnacle. This was for the Chiswick Roundabout site. Jorgen, I'm looking forward to your photographs.

http://www.broadwaymalyan.com/bmalyan/dms/81B302EBCC52E835345DCABA2F1553C9.jpg
i like how this shows just how it will look from the vauxhall side

What are these towers that are under construction? :dunno:

http://img326.imageshack.us/img326/7320/dscf73107ll.jpg

New St Square I believe!

Yes it is. The tallest core of the 2 will peak at 17 storeys.

New Street Square will have quite an impact. There are several small towers and groundscrapers that bulk up Fleet Street (Goldman Sachs International, Deloitte and Touche on Fetter Lane etc). I hope its finished well.

LMS annouced some results today- Of note is a 350,000sq ft scheme they are wroking up for old st.

http://www.lms-plc.com/investmentdivision/investmentnews/?id=9304

im told this one is due to start soon on the city fringe -
http://www.pricemyers.com/LHStrip/RF_housing_files/multiple_eagle_house_image.gif

^^^^^^^^

Is that the farrell scheme from a while back??

yeah... on city road. have been in touch with the engineers, mutual masturbation and all that. am working on some stuff i hope will work out nicely with regards to this and our coverage of the scheme, ill let you know when the engineer gets the greenlight

How tall is that tower anyway??? looks like 30ish storeys

32 floors so at least 100m.

Going back to the Great Western Rd- ESA have 2 projects for this stretch of rd- dont know if its one of the above schemes or what the planning situations are

go to projects- great west rd (new curved looking building) & great west house(looks like a refurb that one)

http://www.esa-ltd.com/

Yes it is. The tallest core of the 2 will peak at 17 storeys.

You are fucking joking.

That piece of hulking groundscraper crap is going to appear that high on the skyline? Fucking hell. Eugh.

You are fucking joking.

That piece of hulking groundscraper crap is going to appear that high on the skyline? Fucking hell. Eugh.

I went past it on the 341 bus yesterday and I'm pretty sure the core's at the 17th floor. It does have quite a big impact, I can see it from my flat and its quite imposing from Waterloo Bridge. It appears to the West / left of St paul's from there... so it serves even more to stretch out the skyline. Not too sure if I approve.

nice little rundown on recent news onthis site

http://www.gle.co.uk/onelondon/Gvine.htm

^ Interesting

"Tower Hamlets has lowest employment rate in the UK: only 54 per cent of the working age population of Tower Hamlets is in employment compared to a national average of 74.5 per cent- the lowest employment rate in the UK. A feature article in the FT that it is one of the ironies of life in the borough that some of Britain’s most deprived communities reside next door to Canary Wharf and the City of London."

The Great West Rd development currently appearing alongside the Elevated M4 is Student accommadation 17 floors. I believe Gothic had some info on this.

"...More jobs in the City than during dotcom boom; the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) says that the number of “City-type” jobs, in financial and professional services rose by 11,600 last year to reach 327,600 - beating the record established at the height of the dotcom boom. The CEBR also forecasts that the number of jobs will increase this year and next. Jonathan Said of CEBR says, “The City has continued to strengthen its position as the home for European merger and acquisition activity”. The big growth areas in City jobs are in investment banking as well as equities and bonds, professional services and corporate finance."

"London has the most expensive flats in the world; according to research by Knight Frank prime new-build flats in London are selling for the highest price per square foot in the world. They estimate that new-build or refurbished flats in good locations sell for £1,744 per sq ft in London - £200 per sq ft more than the second most expensive location, Monaco and 70 per cent more expensive than New York..."

News on a revised tunneling option for Xrail- ... Not sure if this would mean 15CS & NQ could be built sooner or not.

15 CS can be built.

NQ has conditional pp:as far as I understand, the Mayor refused full pp in Nov. 2005 because an energy assessment has not been supplied and the proposal does not incorporate renewable energy technologies. However, he's minded to grant full pp if an energy statement is submitted and CW is prepared to implement renewal energy technologies. This decision does not imply a full re-design of North Quay 1,2 and 3.

http://i2.tinypic.com/spcaib.jpg

The blocking factor is the compulsory purchase order in the drafte Xraill Baill to use North Quay as a temporary worksite for the adjacent "isle of dogs" station. CW had petitioned against the proposed design of the station and had proposed instead for a smaller platform to be built than this one:

http://i2.tinypic.com/spcjl4.jpg

I am still struggling to understand why would KPMG be interest to let space in 15 CS. We can see from these models that 15 CS will stand next to massive works for a period of 5 to 7 years.

http://i2.tinypic.com/spd4d1.jpg

Imo North Quay won't start before 2010. As far as I understand CW is planning to first build Churchill place and Riverside and even maybe WoodWhard in the joint-venture with Ballymore.

Will, when they are talking about £25m for a serviced apartment in the Bowater House redevelopment then these ridiculous figures seem quite believable.

I saw an article a while back that predicted 50,000ish new jobs in "the city" this is while despite recent anouncements that some city firms are moving mainly back office jobs out of the square mile. This could be to free up valuble desk space for new empolyees. It also backs up the recent city property boom.

possible new design of 15 Canada Square splitted into two buildings with possibility of numerous different floorplate configurations.

http://i2.tinypic.com/spetky.jpg

and pan-peninsula viewd from the east.

http://i2.tinypic.com/speu5h.jpg

The new computer generated lightning scheme will be awesome.

Jorgen, I'm looking forward to your photographs.
Here you go:

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=333475

:)

^ Interesting

"Tower Hamlets has lowest employment rate in the UK: only 54 per cent of the working age population of Tower Hamlets is in employment compared to a national average of 74.5 per cent- the lowest employment rate in the UK. A feature article in the FT that it is one of the ironies of life in the borough that some of Britain’s most deprived communities reside next door to Canary Wharf and the City of London."

The difficult thing is that levels of poverty in muslim communities is directly related to low levels of female participation in the workforce. Muslim men may on average earn lower wages than the majoity popluation but are often no worse off than other ethnic minorities. It is low the labour force particpation of muslim women that is the main reason for their lower average family income in comparsion to other ethnic groups.

The reality is though, I can't think any politician will want to tackle it as it would bound to be seen as an attack on traditional values. The best they can hope for is that future generations will be different, so that change comes from within the community.

I am still struggling to understand why would KPMG be interest to let space in 15 CS. We can see from these models that 15 CS will stand next to massive works for a period of 5 to 7 years.

Hopefully it's a negotiating ploy to beat the price down for space in The Shard.

[QUOTE=jef]possible new design of 15 Canada Square splitted into two buildings with possibility of numerous different floorplate configurations.

http://i2.tinypic.com/spetky.jpg

I'm liking this new design- much better than the previous designs.

Where did you get the pics from Jef??? or is it a trade secret ;)

the link http://www.thelpr.com/property.php?id=26

^^ Excellent site Jef

looks like a good magazine- anyone wanna club together & buy it ;)

http://www.thelpr.com/lprmagazine.php

The difficult thing is that levels of poverty in muslim communities is directly related to low levels of female participation in the workforce. Muslim men may on average earn lower wages than the majoity popluation but are often no worse off than other ethnic minorities. It is low the labour force particpation of muslim women that is the main reason for their lower average family income in comparsion to other ethnic groups.

The reality is though, I can't think any politician will want to tackle it as it would bound to be seen as an attack on traditional values. The best they can hope for is that future generations will be different, so that change comes from within the community.

Absolutely, I think change has to come from inside a community (in my case - half Caribbean - gun crime, cheap street business and homophobia etc has to be sorted by us...no one else.). People have to remember why they relocated to a place in the first instance and then remember if they try and change the new place, the reasons why they came in the first place are not there anymore, because its like where they felt they had to run away from! The UK is is successful BECAUSE it is tolerant, not INSPITE of tolerance...it is part and parcel of the success.

Having said that, as with all the communities that have come before, the siblings will change things....those can retain faith (which ultimatley must be strong) and remain British that is...

Now...what were we talking about on this forum...oooh nice buildings!!

I'd prefer the stone clad building at Canada Place - way too much glass and steel at this end of the estate.

Found an image of a sheppard robson building on Crown Place around the back of the broadgate complex- I think this might be the site of the proposed UBS hq.

http://www.interpretations.co.uk/

"Four photomontages for planning permission and subsequent marketing of the building were required by the developer. Interpretations met the needs of both uses by taking great care with reflections and architectural details to produce images which are both highly accurate and visually stunning. Architect: Sheppard Robson"

http://i2.tinypic.com/swxmpx.jpg

http://i2.tinypic.com/swxn51.jpg

Eugh.

COULD ANYONE TELL ME WHY THERE IS NOT A 'LONDON METRO' AREA FORUM?

You are fucking joking.

That piece of hulking groundscraper crap is going to appear that high on the skyline? Fucking hell. Eugh.

jesus christ! That is shocking, didnt think of that view, look at the delicate spires and roof top detailing it will overshadow. Mind boggling banal, my opinion of architects and the planning system has plummeted to new canyons of despair!

Im used to seeing this development from the otherside and from my view it is completely dominating a church spire that sits almost behind it, not sure how near it is in reality... but its only because of the bulk around Barbican that allows this new development to just about get away with it

COULD ANYONE TELL ME WHY THERE IS NOT A 'LONDON METRO' AREA FORUM?
If it was up to me, we'd have had a "London Metro" forum long ago - but I'm not the admin of this place, gothicform is.

It would probably kill the general forums if London has its own section and besides i like the idea that the london area is like the gateway to the other regional forums.

Simon Halabi - who has a 1/3 interest in the Shard of Glass - is close to the aquisition of King's Reach Tower for £80 million...(EGi).

It would probably kill the general forums if London has its own section and besides i like the idea that the london area is like the gateway to the other regional forums.


I agree. UK Skyscrapers has enough subforums and London is fine in the main Projects and Construction thread

Simon Halabi - who has a 1/3 interest in the Shard of Glass - is close to the aquisition of King's Reach Tower for £80 million...(EGi).

......which will soon be empty and ready for its conversion (designed by MAKE) once IPC magazines move across Blackfriars Road to the first phase of Bankside 123 which is just about finished and ready for the hand over from Bovis Lend Lease to Land Securities.

Thx, I understand now why he has bought that building for £80m. Capital and Counties was seeking an investor to go ahead with the recladding and extension of the current tower to approximately 130m high and 400,000 sq ft.
As soon as the building is vacant in 2007, re-construction is likely to start.

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/images/050218_kingsreach.jpg

how tall is it at the moment? :?

111m/30 storeys - http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=103

Why do they have to make it look so awful.

The current building isn't going to win any beauty contests but the reclad looks even worse.

Well, you can blame ex-forumer Britannia... it was him that worked on the project! :)

I actually quite like it, myself - it will add a splash of colour to the South Bank and is more exciting than the drab 70's brown of the current building.

The height increase means it will overtake the Euston Tower (124m), Willis Building (125m) and Citypoint (127m).

I'm not wild on the reclad.... it might look better than the renderings when done.

The new UBS hq looks very funky, but I've got the feeling that they might want a skyscraper instead....

The new UBS hq looks very funky, but I've got the feeling that they might want a skyscraper instead....

What is the new UBS hq?
If they were to take a 'scraper wouldn't it be most likely to be Broadgate?

I said I wasn't sure if it was the site of UBS HQ but they have bought a site in this area between finsbury Sqj & ust north of broadgate & were looking at getting a neighbouring site with the potential of it becoming their new HQ. I cant remember where I read but it was at least 6mth back either in the times or EG.

New London bridge house has been approved

http://www.egi.co.uk/main1.asp

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3065364

latest mayors planning decisions

including heron tower, one new change, marsh wall

Also 80m 25 storey resi in millharbour & 20 storey building in west india dock road


http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning_decisions/2006/20060209.jsp

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/images/babyshard.gif

I cant remember which thread it was in but someone was recently asking what the draper gardens redevelopment would look like- Hopefully it wont go ahead & they just replace the glass in the exisitng tower but who knows

http://www.foggo.com/drapers_cp.htm

Well, you can blame ex-forumer Britannia.

Ex? Have I missed summat?