CZWG wins planning for Britain's second tallest skyscraper

Piers Gough and CZWG have won planning approval for a dual tower scheme in Croydon that will be dwarfed only by the Shard at London Bridge.

The scheme comprises two skyscrapers rising to 68 and 41 storeys in height linked by an 11-storey podium. Once complete the project will peak at 236 metres - some 74 metres shorter than the Shard, which stands at 310 metres, making it the second-tallest building in Great Britain.

Designed by Piers Gough of CZWG Architects for developer Guildhouse Rosepride, One Lansdowne will house 794 residential units and 35,000sq m of office space, as well as a pool, gym and ground-floor retail. It will also feature a public viewing gallery, bar and restaurant on the upper floors. It will have 21% affordable housing.

Located opposite Westfield and Hammerson’s planned £1.4bn revamp of the Whitgift Centre, it is the third iteration of the scheme to go in for planning.

Plans for the site were first approved in 2012, but Guildhouse Rosepride then teamed up with China Building Technique Group, after being introduced by the mayor of London’s promotional vehicle London & Partners, and submitted a revised scheme in January last year.

This was refused planning approval in July last year due to concerns over harm to the setting of heritage assets, the mix of residential units and the amount of affordable housing.

David Hudson, chief executive of Guildhouse Rosepride, said: “The great challenge for Croydon is to change perceptions and this scheme will help it to become a destination in its own right. This will help to achieve that because, in my opinion, it will be a world-famous building.”

“With the highest bar and restaurant in London and a viewing gallery open to the public, this really puts Croydon on the map.

“You will see it from Piccadilly to Brighton. So for just two people to object to it is pretty remarkable.”

Guildhouse Rosepride said it was aiming to start demolishing the existing buildings next summer and to bring in a joint venture partner to complete the funding package. The build time of the skyscraper is estimated at nearly five years.