Shard / London Bridge Tower | Southwark | 309m | 72 fl

[Medo]

It's finally happening...

[Tristan1]

Lets just hope that a property crisis wont affect the shard, and that the economy does not take a down fall for the worst!

Investors and builders will not wont to build if they find out there is no profit to be made, as if there is a property correction between now and 2012, this could mean a loss in profits and the willingness to take the risk in building this project!

[gothicform]

but youre forgetting the shard has two major pre-lets so is pretty immune compared to other developments. name another tower development with major pre-lets?

[Officer Dibble]

Originally Posted by TomD'07

hope you feel better now!

Originally Posted by Newcastle Guy

Indeed, hope you are better Dibble!

Thanks guys, seem to be recovering well.

Originally Posted by SE9

Thank you SE9, and I make no apology for filling up more space with those pics. This is a great sign . Yes, you heard me, I said .

Originally Posted by Tristan1

Lets just hope that a property crisis wont affect the shard, and that the economy does not take a down fall for the worst!

Investors and builders will not wont to build if they find out there is no profit to be made, as if there is a property correction between now and 2012, this could mean a loss in profits and the willingness to take the risk in building this project!

The commercial property market is already in a very unhappy place - witness for example the flight from property-based funds. The Shard is at the very top end, with (touch wood) very wealthy investors who can afford to take the long view and look forward to the next time London property is big news - which should surely be by the Olympics in 2012. And, as goth points out, it's got solid prelets. I'm not saying there's no risk, but the prospects for the Shard are certainly looking good right now.

[TomD'07]

Superb photo evidence that this is going ahead, and just in time for christmas too!

[Brightonboi]

08 is gona be one hell of a year ! we will have more skyscrapers under construction in britain then ever before correct ?

[Tony Resta]

Which month will we see the structure of these babies rising? (Pinnacle, Shard, Leadenhall,...)

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

Well in the predictions thread I estimated August/September for Heron, Bish and possibly Leadenhall, but LBT won't technically start till 2009 I think.

[eXSBass]

Edit. Sorry.

[ill tonkso]

Was that needed?

Anyway, we need more of this, look at how good HK looks, we should replace all the 60s dross in the LBT area (leave the good stuff) and just go nuts.

Yes i have been drinking, that isnt gonna happen.

[Tony Resta]

wouldnt the area near the LBT be suitable for supertalls, i dont think there would be any problems with flights, apart from the typical arguments from EH and so on, most projects would in the end see light, plus with LBT being built there, i could immagine some other supertall making company to the beast.

[Madman]

^ i doubt it, knowing how they have changed their views on Swiss Re 5 yrs after completion they'd probabaly slap sightlines to preserve it's 'iconic' status on the london skyline all the way to Orpington!

[ill tonkso]

I can realistically see a few 200 m jobs going up around there after LBT. Its just so suitable, theres not much around there worth protecting (apart from Southwark Cathedral which has already been ruined anyway). Its the perfect area, amazing Transport Links, already an established commercial sector, and full of forgettable 60s and 70s crap just waiting for the bulldozer. To be honest, i wouldnt mind seeing something like the old 168 Fenchurch Street design going up around there. I think its curves will make an interesting complement to the Shard.

[El_Greco]

No I wouldnt want to see the Shard having tall neighbours - it will work best standing alone.

[ill tonkso]

Im thinking realistically though. Its the perfect area for it.

[Tristan1]

Originally Posted by Officer Dibble

The commercial property market is already in a very unhappy place - witness for example the flight from property-based funds. The Shard is at the very top end, with (touch wood) very wealthy investors who can afford to take the long view and look forward to the next time London property is big news - which should surely be by the Olympics in 2012. And, as goth points out, it's got solid prelets. I'm not saying there's no risk, but the prospects for the Shard are certainly looking good right now.

This is great news, the shard has already got this far, lets hope that 2008 will be a year of progress!

[NothingBetterToDo]

Originally Posted by El_Greco

No I wouldnt want to see the Shard having tall neighbours - it will work best standing alone.

Sounds suspiciously like something EH would say about another iconic building

[Tony Resta]

I cant wait to see the core of this baby rising. Just imagine all the framework forming a 300m pyramid.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by El_Greco

No I wouldnt want to see the Shard having tall neighbours - it will work best standing alone.

Too late!

[Smoggie_Si]

Originally Posted by ill tonkso

I can realistically see a few 200 m jobs going up around there after LBT. Its just so suitable, theres not much around there worth protecting (apart from Southwark Cathedral which has already been ruined anyway). Its the perfect area, amazing Transport Links, already an established commercial sector, and full of forgettable 60s and 70s crap just waiting for the bulldozer.

That is just rubbish. The whole Borough Market area is wonderfully historic, most of Borough High Street is period buildings until you get up towards Borough tube station.

The only sites that I can see as being suitable for high rise development around LBT are the horrid office building east of Guys Hospital on St Thomas's Street and potentially the car park site next to it but I suspect that the latter is too close to the Bermondsey Street conservation area and wouldn't gain permission for anything high rise.