At the topping-out of PLP’s giant 22 Bishopsgate a couple of weeks ago the guests included a cleric from St Helen’s Bishopsgate, the 800-year-old church standing in the shadow of the young upstart.

He gave a speech reminding the dignitaries – including the contractors who have slogged out their guts to bring the tower to reality – that the building is but a fleeting shadow.

“22 Bishopsgate reminds us everything is impermanent and turns back to dust,” he said, probably taking his hosts by surprise.

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