When one thinks of skyscrapers, it is not hard to fill with awe by their magnificent size and architecture. Skyscrapers have come to be known as the symbol of development and innovation in modern societies, and London is the city of innovation for European cities. Before the removal of the restriction on tall buildings, London had very few tall buildings due to regulation for protected views. After the restriction was lifted a few tall buildings were built, but the NatWest tower also known as Tower 42 is considered London’s first true skyscraper. It was built in 1980 and stands tall at 183m.
For some decades, the development of the London skyline stalled due to the rise of terrorist attacks. However, after the 9/11 incident that took the American twin tower buildings, London skyline began to experience growth. This was made evident in the development seen around the Canary Wharf and Bishopsgates areas. The building designs that were constructed were both innovative and beautiful from an architectural standpoint, overshadowing the previous conservative outlook the areas had previously.
With the success of these tall building developments, the London skyline is set to experience a new wave of architectural wonder in the coming decades. Based on the information on gathered by real estate consultancy GL Hearn and the industry forum New London Architecture (NLA), there are plans to construct about 510 skyscrapers which is more than the projected 455 towers in 2016. Each building is to be constructed to be more than 20 storeys, and some have already been built.
About 115 skyscrapers are already under construction for the last two years, and it is way more work than what was accomplished during the previous five years. Among the current works, is the Twenty-Two tower also known as the Pinnacle and currently called the Stump. It is a building that will be completed next year measuring 278 meters or 62 storeys, it will be the tallest building in London. Although, by the year 2020, it will be surpassed by the 1 Undershaft, also called Trellis that measures at 290m.
The economic impact of this construction work is immense as they guarantee employment for all who work on each of the tall building projects. An average skyscraper project would require the labour of roughly 1000 men and this project typically take between three to four years to reach full completion. Therefore, anything that affects the project will also affect the income of all employed under it.
Reports have shown that there has been a decline in the number of projects started, with a 25% decline in those started and 30% in those finished as of 2016. The chairperson of NLA, Peter Murray suggested that the decline is to be expected. These signs were attributed to the unlikely effects of Brexit which caused some projects to be postponed.
It is not all bad news, as the number of the planned towers projected is to provide roughly 106,000 homes by 2030. According to the mayor of London, the majority of the towers will be built in East London and Central London. This would mean that London will have about 66,000 new homes annually.