Status Approved Town or city London Height 235 m Floors 67 | Type Residential Country United Kingdom Opened 2020 | |
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Location West India Quay, London, UK Address 2 Hertsmere Road, London, E14 4AH Similar Landmark Pinnacle, South Quay Plaza, The Scalpel, 40 Leadenhall Street, 100 Bishopsgate | ||
Spire London, previously known as Hertsmere House, is a construction project located in West India Quay, near Canary Wharf. Developed by Greenland Group and designed by HOK, the tallest building of 67 stories is set for construction by the end of 2016 with a completion target of 2020. Demolition of the current building on the site is taking place, with piling due to begin in January 2017. Upon completion, Spire London will become western Europe's tallest residential tower. In total, the development will have 861 apartments and cost £800m to construct.
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History
Spire London is the third skyscraper proposed for the site currently occupied by Hertsmere House, an office building which is undergoing demolition to make way for the new development. The first proposal was Columbus Tower, a 237 m (778 ft) residential building. This was followed by Hertsmere House, a residential tower of 75 storeys and named after the building it was set to replace.
In September 2014, Greenland Group acquired the site from Commercial Estates Group (CEG) and submitted a planning application for a new skyscraper which, at the time, was still known as Hertsmere House, before a name change to Spire London. The application was approved by councillors at Tower Hamlets Council on 8 February 2016, with five councillors voting in support of the plans and three voting against.
As part of the scheme, developer Greenland Group will contribute the equivalent of £50m to the local community.
Though there were few objections to the design of the building, objections were raised about its location. The plans were opposed by Canary Wharf Group, Credit Suisse (whose offices it is planned to be located next to) and the Museum of London Docklands as well as some local residents who raised concerns regarding the density of the scheme and overshadowing in the local area. Concerns were also raised that the tower will be located next to a Grade I listed Georgian warehouse.
Design
The design of the building includes prow and bow shapes, taking inspiration from the maritime history of the docks where it is due to be built. It is also based on the petals of the orchid.
Construction
Demolition of the office building currently on the site known as Hertsmere House began on 6 July 2016 and is due to be complete in mid-November 2016, with piling due to take place in January 2017. By the summer of 2018, building work is due to have reached the halfway point, with the entire development expected to be complete in 2020.