For centuries London has been one of the world’s
leading financial hubs, but despite rubbing
shoulders with New York and Hong Kong, until
recently the UK’s capital lacked the one
thing that is now synonymous with a modern
city - skyscrapers.
But, things have changed dramatically over recent
years and London has experienced a skyscraper
boom - further growing its economy, transforming
its skyline and actually changing the climate
in some parts of the city.
Standing as a major cultural and financial
hub for more than 2,000 years, London’s
rich history saw it resist a vertical push
during the 19th and 20th centuries while other
cities, particularly in the United States,
began to embrace the skyscraper.
But that all changed in the 2000s with a push
from authorities to grow the skyline and provide
more space for the city’s burgeoning financial
sectors.
Witnessing more than a decade of intense development,
London’s skyline has grown from just two
skyscrapers before the turn of the century
- to 37 now either complete or under construction.
While skyscrapers have risen across London,
the biggest change to the skyline has occurred
here in the historical heart of the city.
Dubbed the Square Mile, the City of London
has been the financial heart of Britain for
centuries and is home to countless historic
sites - including St Paul’s Cathedral, the
Royal Exchange, the Old Bailey and the Tower
of London.
With such heritage, authorities established
strict planning regulations for the area,
preserving the city’s past while protecting
sightlines to landmarks.
The view of St Paul’s from certain angles
was given particular importance and has even
dictated the shape of some of the skyscrapers
here in the City - including 52-54 Lime Street,
known by Londoners as the Scalpel and the
48-storey Leadenhall Building.
Despite being designed by different firms
and completed five years apart - these buildings’
angles mirror one another creating a striking
view of the cathedral’s dome from the east.
But, while these regulations protected historic
sites and drove the shape of Britain’s most
iconic modern buildings, they didn’t address
density - and by 2015, with several tall towers
having emerged in the area, the City was quickly
becoming known as one of the windiest areas
in London.
With so many tall buildings built so close
together, skyscraper canyons were formed and
the area began to develop its own microclimate.
That resulted in wind being directed down
and along the streets - with forces strong
enough to knock over cyclists and pedestrians.
This phenomenon is nothing new in high rise
cities and was a factor in New York’s introduction
of setback regulations back in 1916 - but
the speed at which the City of London transformed
combined with its narrow and more irregular
street layout exacerbated the issue.
Even here at 20 Fenchurch Street, which is
largely isolated from the main cluster, the
effects can be felt.
Since its completion in 2013, locals have
blamed the building’s 36-storey concave
facade for significantly increased wind speeds
down at street level.
While these skyscrapers have enabled significant
economic growth, the conditions they now create
at ground level - particularly in the winter
months - has left the area largely devoid
of the active street life that other areas
of London enjoy.
With a pre-pandemic daily population of more
than 500,000 and a further 13 skyscrapers
due to complete by 2026, the City of London
recognised the need for action and in 2019
introduced the UK’s first wind guidelines.
Under the new arrangements, developers must
provide comprehensive wind tunnel and computer
simulation assessments of how a new building’s
height and mass will affect people on the street.
Maximum allowable wind speeds at ground level
will also be reduced and any proposed buildings
found to negatively impact cyclists or pedestrians
will be required to change their plans.
With so many people currently working from
home the City is much quieter than usual - but
foot and cycle traffic is expected to increase
as restrictions are eased as people continue
to avoid public transport.
The uncertainty of Brexit and the pandemic means that many new schemes
have been paused for the time being
- but a break in London’s long run of
developments might just be what authorities
and developers need to reflect on the size
and shape of what we build here in the future.
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