Scheme at 2 Finsbury Avenue, drawn up by Danish architect 3XN, is third high-rise to get Square Mile’s OK in recent weeks

The City of London has approved its third tower in less than a month after planners gave the green light to a 38-storey scheme by Danish architect 3XN for British Land’s Broadgate development

The scheme at 2 Finsbury Avenue is 3XN’s first project in London and others working on the job include executive architect Adamson, the firm which worked on the Shard.

Work will involve knocking down two buildings at 2-3 Finsbury Avenue designed by British architect Peter Foggo for Arup in the 1980s which were granted immunity from listing. At one point Arup was tasked with designing a replacement for its own building, with a 32-storey tower that won planning in 2018 - before 3XN was brought in.

The newly consented scheme will feature just over 85,000sq m of office space, along with retail and restaurants.

finsbury av 2

The scheme includes 85,000 sq m of office space

In a planning statement sent to City of London planners last autumn, British Land says: “The consented scheme was the culmination of a design originally conceived in 2014. The transformation of Broadgate has progressed since [it] was approved, and occupier and workplace requirements have evolved since then too. These new proposals respond to this changing context and propose a new approach to the Site’s redevelopment, including a best practice approach to sustainability, workplace design and inclusion.”

Neighbouring authority Hackney council had objected to the 3XN plan saying it would blight parts of the borough including the Sun Street conservation area, a grade II listed pub and locally listed buildings at 5-15 Sun Street.

>> Also read: 50 Wonders | Stuart Lipton: 1 Finsbury Avenue

 

But the development became the third tower in the Square Mile to get the thumbs-up in four weeks after proposals by Hong Kong developer Tenacity for two schemes on Gracechurch Street were approved.

Fletcher Priest’s plan for a 32-storey tower at 55 Gracechurch Street was approved last month while last week KPF’s proposal for a 33-storey tower at 70 Gracechurch Street got the green light last week.

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