1 Undershaft

Proposed skyscraper in London May 2020 1 Undershaft approved Office 1 Undershaft London, EC 3 United Kingdom 51.514242 -0.081583 inline, title 294 m on 74 154156 m2 sqft 0 on (office) Eric Parry Architects WSPRogers Dave Singapore developer unveils plans for London's tallest tower http://www.building.co.uk/londons-next-tallest-tower-unveiled/5079084.article Building 24 October 2016 StanhopeAroland Holdings 1 Undershaft (also called One London) is a skyscraper planned for the City of London financial district. The scheme is being developed by Aroland HoldingsAROLAND HOLDINGS LIMITED https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/OE003648 2024-08-23 Find and update company information en and designed by Eric Parry Architects.Eric Parry Architects https://ia600904.us.archive.org/1/items/1512-financial-times-tallest-tower-1-undershaft/1512-financial-times-tallest-tower-1-undershaft.pdf 1512 Financial Times Tallest Tower – 1 Undershaft It is set to replace the St Helen's tower, and when it is built it will be the second-tallest building in London and the United Kingdom after The Shard).City of London Corporation approves Square Mile’s tallest tower https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/city-of-london-corporation-approves-square-miles-tallest-tower/ https://web.archive.org/web/20250429153517/https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/city-of-london-corporation-approves-square-miles-tallest-tower/ 2025-04-29 2025-08-31 City of London en Despite being shorter than the Shard, One London will sit on higher ground, and the two towers will appear the same height on the skyline, due to the buildings sharing the same AOD (Above Ordnance Datum) height of 309.6 metres.City of London Planning Committee Presentation (1 Undershaft) https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s205027/22.1US%20Committee%20Presentation%20240624_Updated%20-%20reduced.pdf City of London Planning Committee 1 July 2026 The building is the third design for a skyscraper at 1 Undershaft, replacing two previous proposals designed by architects Avery Associates and Eric Parry themselves respectively. The second proposal, nicknamed 'The Trellis' due to its external cross bracing, was given approval in November 2016, but this design was ultimately discarded in favour of a quad-segmented tower revealed in August 2023. The substantial changes entailed will result in 1 Undershaft needing to once again apply for planning permission from the City of London Corporation.Lowe Tom Eric Parry unveils revised design for City's tallest tower https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/eric-parry-unveils-revised-design-for-citys-tallest-tower/5124864.article Building Design 29 August 2023 7 October 2023 Construction is planned to take around five years subject to planning.Spocchia Gino Eric Parry redesigns plans for City's tallest building https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/eric-parry-redesigns-plans-for-citys-tallest-building Architects' Journal 7 October 2023 25 August 2023 In June 2026, a main contractor appointment was expected in late 2026, with construction planned to start in 2028. Background Original proposal (early 2015) thumb|upright|left|Original design by Avery Associates, to the immediate right of 122 Leadenhall Street In January 2015, early plans emerged of a replacement office building for the St Helen's tower in Undershaft within London's Square Mile.Morby Aaron http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2015/01/16/design-unveiled-for-city-of-londons-tallest-skyscraper Design unveiled for City of London's tallest skyscraper Construction Enquirer 16 January 2015 21 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150324084422/http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2015/01/16/design-unveiled-for-city-of-londons-tallest-skyscraper/ 24 March 2015 live The proposal, named 1 Undershaft, was designed by Avery Associates; who began working on the scheme in collaboration with the then-owner of the site, Simon Halabi, in 2010.Stott Rory http://www.archdaily.com/589330/avery-associates-reveals-design-for-270-metre-tower-next-to-london-s-cheesegrater/ Avery Associates Reveals Design for 270-Metre Tower Next to London's Cheesegrater ArchDaily 20 January 2015 21 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150302102938/http://www.archdaily.com/589330/avery-associates-reveals-design-for-270-metre-tower-next-to-london-s-cheesegrater/ 2 March 2015 live At 270 m on, it would have become the third-tallest building in London and the United Kingdom, behind The Shard and 22 Bishopsgate.Skyscraper Center - London http://skyscrapercenter.com/city/london The Skyscraper Center 8 October 2015 Second proposal (late 2015) In July 2015, details of a revised scheme by the new owners of the site, Aroland Holdings, were reported. The plans were for a skyscraper of 304 m on designed by Eric Parry Architects.Edmonds Lizzie Plans for skyscraper to rival the Shard to be submitted to City of London https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/plans-for-skyscraper-to-rival-the-shard-submitted-to-city-of-london-10368069.html Evening Standard 6 July 2015 10 July 2015 According to some reports, the design could be "modelled on Cleopatra's Needle".Wainwright Oliver 22 Bishopsgate – and the steroidal towers set to ruin London's skyline https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/30/22-bishopgate-skyscraper-london-skyline-development The Guardian 30 June 2015 12 July 2015 In December 2015, the new design was released for a tower of 294.6 m on with 73 floors.Tucker Emma Eric Parry Architects unveils tallest tower in City of London http://www.dezeen.com/2015/12/07/eric-parry-architects-1-undershaft-development-skyscraper-tallest-tower-city-london-financial-district/ Dezeen 7 December 2015 7 December 2015No. 1 Undershaft at The Skyscraper Center http://skyscrapercenter.com/building/no1-undershaft/19785 The Skyscraper Center 7 December 2015 Subject to planning permission, it was set to become the tallest building in the Square Mile when completed and the second-tallest building in London and the United Kingdom, behind The Shard. A consultation process took place in autumn 2015. On 8 February 2016, a planning application was submitted for the development,Williams Richard Plans for City of London's tallest building submitted http://www.propertyweek.com/plans-for-city-of-londons-tallest-building-submitted/5079124.article Property Week 8 February 2016 9 February 2016 live https://web.archive.org/web/20160826053050/http://www.propertyweek.com/plans-for-city-of-londons-tallest-building-submitted/5079124.article 26 August 2016 with a decision expected to be made in September 2016.Bevan Robert The Shaft will rival the y double 'the' error in source title The Shard for coolest skyscraper in London https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/design/how-eric-parrys-1-undershaft-will-rival-the-the-shard-for-coolest-skyscraper-in-london-a3301016.html Evening Standard 21 July 2016 23 July 2016 thumb|upright|1 Undershaft would replace the St Helen's tower, pictured above However, a revised planning application was submitted by the developer which reduced the proposed height by 4.66 m on to 289.9 m on, due to possible interference with the flight paths of the nearby London City Airport. Each floor was reduced in height by 50 mm and structural floor beam depths were changed. In addition, the level of the soffit was decreased and the viewing gallery height reduced, which was intended to be double height. Despite its height reduction, the proposed height will still make 1 Undershaft the second-tallest building in London and the United Kingdom upon completion.Waite Richard Eric Parry reduces height of tallest tower in City https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/eric-parry-reduces-height-of-tallest-tower-in-city/10012387.article Architects' Journal 3 October 2016 3 October 2016 Following a recommendation by planning officers for approval, the scheme was approved by the City of London Corporation on 28 November 2016, with 19 votes in support and two against; final approval was given by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on 12 December 2016.Lynch Russell Square Mile's tallest tower dubbed the "Trellis", set for thumbs-up https://www.standard.co.uk/business/square-mile-s-tallest-tower-dubbed-the-trellis-set-for-thumbsup-a3400766.html Evening Standard 21 November 2016 21 November 2016Bourke Joanna Plans to build City of London's tallest skyscraper given green light https://www.standard.co.uk/business/the-trellis-skyscraper-gets-the-green-light-in-london-a3406681.html Evening Standard 28 November 2016 28 November 2016Prynn Jonathan Sadiq Khan gives backing for City's two tallest towers to be built https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-gives-green-light-for-two-tallest-buildings-in-the-city-to-be-built-a3418826.html 27 April 2017 Evening Standard 13 December 2016 The start date for construction of the scheme has not yet been decided, but building work is expected to be finished anywhere between six and 10 years from its approval date,Sullivan Connor City of London approves 73-storey skyscraper to rival Shard https://www.ft.com/content/20dfcf82-b2f4-11e6-9c37-5787335499a0 live https://web.archive.org/web/20161129024042/https://www.ft.com/content/20dfcf82-b2f4-11e6-9c37-5787335499a0 28 November 2016 29 November 2016 28 November 2016 Financial Times with demolition firm Keltbray the demolition of the St Helen's building currently on the site expected to take 18 months and construction of 1 Undershaft due to take between three and four years.Bury Rhiannon 1 Undershaft, the tallest tower in the City of London, gets the green light https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/28/1-undershaft-tallest-tower-city-london-gets-green-light/ The Telegraph 28 November 2016 28 November 2016 Design thumb|upright|left|Second 'Trellis' design for 1 Undershaft (centre), to the left of The Gherkin. The second design's proposed skyscraper is rectangular in shape and slightly tapers as it gets higher. Developer Aroland Holdings, a British Virgin Islands entity of undisclosed ultimate ownership, originally wanted 1 Undershaft to be taller than the proposed height. However, the height has been limited by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to avoid intruding on flight paths. In addition, the building's crown, which was intended to resemble Cleopatra's Needle, was not accepted by City planners who wanted "a less demonstrative top. They didn't want another overt shape".Wainwright Oliver 1 Undershaft, the tallest skyscraper in the City of London, revealed https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2015/dec/07/1-undershaft-tallest-skyscraper-city-of-london-eric-parry The Guardian 7 December 2015 7 December 2015 The tower is designed to be built 10.5 m on off the ground in order to create public space underneath the building. To make room for the public space, the core will need to be positioned to the side of the tower. As a result, bronze-coloured diamond-shaped external cross-bracing will be required, giving the building its nickname The Trellis.Heathcote Edwin City of London's tallest building rises above corporate interests https://www.ft.com/content/5eaa0532-9c0a-11e5-8ce1-f6219b685d74 Financial Times 7 December 2015 7 December 2015Morby Aaron 21 November 2016 London's second tallest tower set for approval http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/11/21/londons-second-tallest-tower-set-for-approval/ 28 November 2016 Construction Enquirer A public square is also part of the proposed scheme, with 2178 m2 sqft 0 on of retail space below ground level.Richard Waite Ella Braidwood Thumbs up for tallest tower in City https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/thumbs-up-for-tallest-tower-in-city/10015213.article Architects' Journal 28 November 2016 29 November 2016 The top of the skyscraper is set to have London's highest viewing gallery free for public access (which could include a museum run by the Museum of London),Haslett Emma Could a new City skyscraper host London's highest museum? http://www.cityam.com/242452/could-new-city-skyscraper-1-undershaft-host-londons-highest-museum City AM 24 November 2016 2 June 2016 and a restaurant. Third proposal (2023) In August 2023, Eric Parry Architects revealed a substantially revised design for 1 Undershaft, prompted by changes to working habits following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to improve the building's sustainability credentials. In place of the previous cross-braced and tapered tower, this redesign proposes a tower segmented into four vertical blocks, increasing the usable floor area by 30%. At 294m, the building will be the tallest in the City and second tallest in London as a whole. A public roof garden on the 10th floor has been added, extending over a curved canopy above the corner of Leadenhall Street and St Mary Axe; several winter gardens up to approximately 1,530 m2, external office terrace spaces up to 1,370 m2, and around 110,000 m2 of workspace, up from the second design's 90,000 m2. The public viewing gallery, shared with the Museum of London, remains part of the proposals. In October 2024, Eric Parry Architects resubmitted the plans, reducing the building's footprint and opening up the lower levels.Waite Richard 2024-12-16 Eric Parry’s revised One Undershaft skyscraper approved https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/eric-parrys-revised-one-undershaft-skyscraper-approved 2025-08-31 The Architects’ Journal en City of London Corporation’s Planning Applications sub committee approved plans for the building on 13 December 2024. The scheme - now called One London - was granted full planning consent by the City of London Corporation in December 2025; a main contractor appointment is expected in late 2026, with construction planned to start in 2028.Plans unveiled for London's tallest tower https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/plans-unveiled-for-londons-tallest-tower 1 June 2026 The Construction Index 1 June 2026 See also List of tallest buildings and structures in London List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom References External links Avery Associates website Eric Parry Architects website Category:Buildings and structures in the City of London Category:Proposed skyscrapers in London Category:Redevelopment projects in London