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Over 57,000 square metres of new A-Grade office space
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1st stage of new pedestrian north-south route through to Leadenhall Market
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Over 300,000 sqm of office space approved so far in 2025
The Corporation’s Planning Applications Sub-Committee has, today, unanimously approved plans for a 31-storey officer tower at 130 Fenchurch Street.
Formerly known as Fountain House, the new building features a staggered, “jewel-like” design, giving it a distinct architectural character, nestling within the Square Mile’s cluster of skyscrapers, to respect the views of local heritage buildings St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower of London.
130 Fenchurch Street will provide 57,491 sqm of much needed, Grade-A office space, as the City Corporation seeks to deliver a minimum of 1.2m sqm net floorspace, by 2040, with the building to accommodate approximately 3,610 jobs, in total. Demand for sustainable, best-in-class office space in the City has surged in recent years, with vacancy rates in newly constructed buildings falling to 0.5 per cent, according to Knight Frank.
The approval of 130 Fenchurch marks the seventh office building providing over 50,000 sqm of floorspace in 2025, with over 300,000 sqm approved this year, in total.*
The City Corporation is set to attend Expo Real in Munich** next week, one of Europe’s premier real estate conferences, to forge partnerships with organisations that are seeking to take advantage of this surging demand for office space and who share its vision for driving sustainability, to future proof the City’s real estate.
Additionally, the ground floor of 130 Fenchurch Street features 300 sqm of public space, including food, drink and retail outlets. The City will also welcome a new external garden terrace, on the 20th storey. In line with City policy, this elevated public space will be free to visit, seven days a week, offering spectacular public views for workers, residents and visitors alike. City roof gardens, terraces, and viewing galleries are already a magnet for the public, with those already established welcoming over 40 million visitors.
As a further measure to improve the walking and ‘wheeling’ experience through the Square Mile, the developers Aviva and CO-RE have committed to delivery of the 1st stage of a new pedestrian, north-south route, connecting Fenchurch Street with Leadenhall Market, Cullum Street and the Lime Street Estate.
Chairman of the Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee, Tom Sleigh, said:
“130 Fenchurch captures our ambition to unlock growth: a striking new workplace in the heart of the City, with routes and views that open up the City for everyone. This is about more than one building — it’s part of a pattern of proactive planning decisions that are helping to shape a future-ready Square Mile: greener, denser, more dynamic, and firmly aligned with the UK’s growth mission.
Planning can be a growth engine, and 130 Fenchurch proves it. We’re delivering jobs, public space, and best-in-class offices at the scale the UK economy needs.”
The existing building is scheduled for demolition in 2026 and the new proposals, for completion in 2030.
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