Giant new London skyscraper would be almost as tall as The Shard

London’s skyline could soon change drastically, as a new giant skyscraper may be on its way.

The brand-new building will be located in the heart of the city near the famous Gherkin Tower, and it will replace the current Exchequer Court office building on St Mary Axe.

According to a proposal by the site’s owner, US insurer AmTrust, the revamped tower will have 70 floors and stand at almost 300m, making it almost as tall as The Shard (309m).

Its height means it will also tower over nearby buildings, including the iconic Gherkin (180m) and the famous Cheesegrater (225m).

Reports claim the new building will create 100,000m² of office space, but, like the other skyscrapers suddenly appearing in London, it will also provide some public amenities.

The first seven floors of the tower will be accessible to the public and house cultural, exhibition, and events spaces.

A publicly accessible double-height landscaped garden will be constructed on the seventh floor, offering views of the Gherkin Tower, and reports suggest that the building will have a rooftop garden, too.

According to Construction Enquirer, the tower’s design is being developed to ‘respect’ views of the Grade 1-listed St Helen’s Bishopsgate Church in the St Helen’s Place Conservation Area, and will feature a ‘pulled back’ design to create a public courtyard near the area.

When will the new Exchequer Court skyscraper be finished?

The plans are in consultation, but AmTrust, which paid £105,000,000 for the site in 2017, is expected to submit a planning application in early 2027 and hopes to finish the redevelopment by 2033.

What else is happening in London?

The revamped Exchequer Court tower isn’t the only new skyscraper coming to the City of London.

A £1,000,000,000 tower named One London will replace St Helen’s Tower, which is located close to the Exchequer Court, between the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin.

The building will be 74 storeys tall. It will feature Europe’s highest publicly accessible viewing gallery and will offer panoramic views of the city.

Outside of the City of London, the iconic BT Tower is being transformed into a posh hotel with a rooftop swimming pool, a 360-degree revolving observation deck, and lots of new retail space.

In the south of the capital,  several new skyscrapers are being built in Vauxhall that will include homes, student accommodation, another hotel, and retail and leisure amenities.