City green-lights AHMM’s ‘biophilic’ office tower

The City of London Corporation has approved AHMM-designed plans for a 24-storey office-led development on Houndsditch.

Described by AHMM co-founder – and current RIBA president – Simon Allford as “biophilic”, the structure will deliver more than 56,500 sq m of office space, flexible retail/café space and new public realm.

It will replace a series of “harsh” 1980s buildings that AHMM said had created a hostile pedestrian experience with narrow pavements on the site, which is opposite Foggo Associates’ Can of Ham building.

Alastair Moss, who chairs the City of London Corporation’s planning and transportation committee, said 115-123 Houndsditch was the seventh office-led tall building scheme to secure consent in the City since the start of January.

“This is not only an unprecedented number of major developments to come for decision, but it also clearly illustrates the enduring strength of the office market in the City of London and unwavering confidence from developers,” he said.

“With ambitious sustainability credentials, a focus on occupier wellbeing and offering in-demand flexible office floorspace for all variety of business, this development on Houndsditch will be an exemplar of the future of the Square Mile.”

Richard Berry, development director at developer Brockton Everlast, said the building would help to revitalise a “unique pocket” of the City.

“This scheme has been designed from the start with a relentless focus on carbon reduction,” he said.

“We tasked the architects to create an exceptional and sustainable design – one that delivers a vastly improved operational carbon footprint as part of our goal to future-proof the building for the next generation of net-zero occupiers.”