City of London Approves Skyscraper to Match Shard as UK’s Tallest Building

The 1 Undershaft tower will feature a public garden, educational space, and Europe’s highest viewing gallery upon completion in the next decade.

1 Undershaft will rise to 309.6 meters, equaling the Shard’s height as the tallest building in the UK, adhering to civil aviation height limits.
The skyscraper will include a free public garden on the 11th floor, a children’s educational space on the uppermost floors, and Europe’s highest publicly accessible viewing gallery.
The development will provide 154,156 square meters of office space, accounting for nearly 13% of the City of London’s projected office space needs by 2040.
Concerns were raised about increased surveillance due to additional CCTV cameras needed to monitor a large public screen at the site, though revised plans addressed some earlier criticisms.
The project, led by Eric Parry Architects and developer Stanhope, reflects strong global investor confidence in London’s real estate market and aims to enhance the City’s cultural and economic appeal.