Plans for Hertshten Properties’ 32-storey mixed-use office tower at 85 Gracechurch Street, EC3, have been recommended for approval by the City of London.
The office block, which will offer 376,737 sq ft of offices, is set to be granted approval at a meeting of the planning committee next week.
As part of the redevelopment the existing nine-storey, 74,616 sq ft building, which was formerly owned by City & General, will be partially demolished and replaced.
Once complete, the site will also provide 6,243 sq ft of retail space. It will also offer a 9,117 sq ft heritage garden and a 10,000 sq ft public hall, both of which will be open to the public.
The heritage garden on the fifth floor will be run by the Museum of London and will feature planted woodland and a multi-functional cultural space, with VR capabilities to detail the historic significance of the area.
There will also be a public hall (pictured below) which traces a historic walking route between Gracechurch Street and Lime Street Passage to facilitate large-scale events that will promote Leadenhall Market.
As part of the development, Leadenhall Market will be extended in a bid to drive footfall and help transform it into a seven-day-a-week destination.
The planned construction has come under scrutiny from Historic England, which found that low to moderate harm would come to the market due to the proposed scale of the new development.
Concerns for the neighbouring Grade II listed heritage asset included loss of prominence and overshadowing. Historic England also voiced concerns over “a distracting presence in views towards 81-82 Gracechurch Street (Grade II)” and the Bank Conservation Area, according to planning docs submitted to the City of London.
The public body praised the proposed reinstatement of a historic route through the site and improvements to the existing ground floor facade, which were seen to enhance the immediate area.
The site also received five letters of objection from residents who raised concerns over the loss of natural light to their homes.
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