PLANNING permission has been granted for the tallest skyscraper yet in the City of London.

The City’s Planning and Transportation Committee gave the green light on Wednesday morning for the 62-storey development at 22 Bishopsgate.

2,033,034 sq feet of office space will be created at the scheme with retail units at the ground level and a restaurant, bar and public viewing gallery at the top.

The decision to grant planning permission comes three years after construction was halted on the Pinnacle project at the same site. Earlier this year a consortium led by AXA Real Estate purchased the site and a redesign by PLP architects was submitted to planners.

At 278 metres tall, the new 22 Bishopsgate will be over 40 metres taller than the Heron Tower, the current tallest building in the City. It will also be taller than One Canada Square in Canary Wharf and second only to the Shard, which stands at over 300 metres tall on the other side of the Thames by London Bridge.

Speaking after the committee’s decision, the City’s Chief Planning Officer Annie Hampson said: “This is a substantial high quality tower. 22 Bishopsgate exemplifies many of the qualities we are looking for in our landmark buildings – it is elegant, calm, and open to the public. A viewing gallery at the top will provide for workers, visitors, residents with the opportunity to look out over the City free of charge.

“Tall buildings in the City’s Eastern Cluster near transport hubs are an effective way of creating the increase in office space and employment needed for a growing London.”

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