A scheme for the site, nicknamed the “Walkie Talkie” in the press, was originally approved first by the Committee and then, following a public inquiry, by the Secretary of State in July 2007. That scheme was for a 39-storey office tower with shop and restaurant/bar uses on the ground floor and in the 4 storey annex building, a skygarden at floor 35 and above and pocket park between the tower and annex building. In July 2008, planning permission was granted for an amended five-storey annex building that would provide a restaurant, café, drinking establishment and servicing facilities for the tower.

Changes had since been made to the scheme, which required new planning permission. The new scheme will comprise a 38 storey building with Class B1 (office), Class A1 (shop) and Class D1 (non-residential institution) accommodation at ground level, as well as a skygarden at 35th floor level and above, which will be accessible to the public and include a roof terrace with uses Class D1 (non-residential institution) and Class A3/A4 (restaurant and cafe/drinking establishment). There will also be a five storey building erected on site for Class A1 (shop), Class A3 (restaurant and cafe) and A4 (drinking establishment) uses and associated servicing facilities, with two levels of basement for underground parking, servicing, and ancillary plant and storage. In addition, there will be a new pedestrian route and publicly accessible open area, landscaping, and provision of new vehicular access arrangements and reconfiguration of existing servicing arrangements for adjoining properties and other associated works. The 99,739sq.m scheme would provide a great deal of high quality floorspace.

The principal changes are: an additional level of office accommodation within the existing building envelope, a larger second basement, the southern part of roof structure is elevated, a reduction in the number of external fins, the reduction in volume of the skygarden (although the scale remains generous) and the omission of the northern viewing terrace. The building will be the same height and similar in overall design and approach to the building approved in 2007. It is in substantial compliance with the policies that relate to it and in particular supports the strategic objective of the Corporation to promote the City as the leading international financial and business centre. The scheme provides an employment led mixed-use development that would provide an increase in high quality floorspace.

The Committee agreed that the scheme, which will have a tower similar in size and appearance to the building approved in 2007, is of a unique architectural design and will be a landmark building. Planning permission was granted subject to the Mayor of London (in accordance with legislation) being given the 14 days to decide whether to allow the Corporation to grant planning permission and to conditions, planning obligations and other agreements.

Contact Tia Cox, 7332 3865