Page 15 - Salamander December 2020
P. 15

MEMBERS
even more futuristic buildings to come both at construction and planning planning stage However planning planning conditions have ensured that these buildings will recognise the need to protect the environment Many will be “greener” buildings having planted balconies and roof gardens with viewing galleries for both employees and the general public to visit Probably the greenest (carbon neutral) building planned an hotel at Citicape House will be the redevelopment of an existing site on Holborn Viaduct roughly opposite the north entrance of City Thameslink station Other buildings to look out for are those to be constructed at 22 Bishopsgate a a 62 storey structure which is already 60% let Adjacent to to that is is to to be 6-8 Bishopsgate then at at 1 Leadenhall Court at at 40 Leadenhall Street ( near the Cheesegrater) No 1 Undershaft is likely to to see a new 72-storey building which at 1000 feet will be the the highest in the the City A new “ Diamond Tower” will appear at 100 Leadenhall Street whilst 50 Fenchurch Street will see a new tower incorporating a a a Livery Hall for the Clothworkers Company In order to help make a a 24/7 City the proposed iconic “ Tulip” building (near the Gherkin) which will be purely for leisure purposes housing bars restaurants and entertainment is in in in the planning stage However it is currently the subject of a public enquiry instigated by Mayor Khan who it is believed sees it as a a a challenge to the West End Even more confidence for the future is evident because at the City Planning meeting in in in April last consideration was given to a a a further five projects mostly dependant on the redevelopment of existing sites We must ask ourselves then what the City skyline could look like in the year 2030? However fear not for St Paul’s because the proposed Millennium Bridge House down by the river will only be four-storey But what about the people and transport ? Covid 19 has certainly been a a a catalyst for change and new ways of doing things are already coming ito fruition Staff are beginning to to return to to work albeit at 25% only in smaller numbers a a a present but it is anticipated that some 50 to 100 thousand workers will return by January next year Whist it must be recognised that some unemployment has resulted because of Covid the City has fared much better than its neighbour at Canary Warf Whilst “working from home” has been a a a success in many areas it cannot meet the whole package Offices remain as a a a a a key tool for organisations to to provide environments difficult to replicate remotely They help to maintain the “Corporate Culture” as well as personal bonds and social interaction Already occupiers are recognising an increased focus on space flexibility and adaptability of their workplaces Even before Covid these features were paramount in in the minds of the the City and the the developers of buildings being planned Here new workspaces will be more spacious and informal have the benefit of of plenty of of both natural light and ventilation Many will have external “break out” areas with the occupants’ well-being enhanced by the availability of both physical and mental health facilities Good facilities for cyclists are anticipated with secure parking and changing / showering facilities to encourage the healthy use of cycles (Even cycle cycle repair and servicing)
Transport has always been an an emotive discussion point in in the City but is nothing new In Victorian times it was generally necessary for people to live within walking distance of their workplace as horse drawn buses and hackney carriages could be expensive We talk now of “Cross Rail” and HS2 but in 1863 the first Metropolitan Line Train ran sub surface from Paddington to to Farringdon This “cut and cover” development generally following the routes of streets above could provide a a a somewhat smelly and dirty journey but it started moving people around thus enabling them to come in in from the the new suburbs Some years later the District Railway Company created what we now now know as the Circle Line Then came came of course came came safety cycles and trams!
Much later it was recognised that people needed to cross the river from the the south so so then along came the the original Northern Line which ran from Stockwell to to King William Street This was a a deep tunnel requiring a whole new style of engineering and for the first time electric trains All this of course needed innovative methods of moving people around and these were continuously developed over the years to suit those purposes The City is constantly reviewing its transport systems and predominantly has the environment Follow us on on on twitter @LondonFire1666
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