A stunning new addition is set to redefine the heart of the City of London, as plans for a striking “jewel-like” skyscraper at 130 Fenchurch Street get the green light.
The City of London Corporation has approved the demolition of the now-vacant Fountain House, clearing the path for a bold architectural statement that promises to reshape the Square Mile’s skyline.
‘Jewel-like’ skyscraper to be built in Square Mile
The approved plans include two gleaming towers, one stretching 31 storeys high and the other 34, both crafted in sleek glass and steel.
Designed by the acclaimed architects WilkinsonEyre, the same firm behind the Battersea Power Station redevelopment, the project is set to be completed by 2030. Once finished, it will offer:
- Over 58,000 square metres of modern office space
- A lush external garden terrace on the 17th floor
- A public rooftop gallery on the 20th floor
- Vibrant food and drink venues at street level
The development will rise next to some of the City’s iconic towers, the “Walkie Talkie”, the “Scalpel”, and the “Cheese Grater”.
Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee, stated: “130 Fenchurch captures our ambition to unlock growth: a striking new workplace in the heart of the City, with routes and views that open up the City for everyone.
This is about more than one building; it’s part of a pattern of proactive planning decisions that are helping to shape a future-ready Square Mile: greener, denser, more dynamic, and firmly aligned with the UK’s growth mission.
Planning can be a growth engine, and 130 Fenchurch proves it. We’re delivering jobs, public space, and best-in-class offices at the scale the UK economy needs.”
Historic Foundations, Futuristic Vision
Fountain House, the building set for demolition, carries historical significance. Constructed between 1954 and 1958, it rose from the ruins of a WWII bomb site.
Designed by W H Rogers and Sir Howard Robertson, it stood as one of the first post-war tall office buildings in the Square Mile, a landmark of its time, now making way for the future.
Fresh Urban Vision for Canary Wharf
Meanwhile, not far away in Canary Wharf, bold visions are also taking shape. A floating, Olympic-sized natural water lido is in the works at Eden Dock, just across from the Tube station.
Proposed by Sea Lanes, the team behind the UK’s first National Open Water Swimming Centre in Brighton, the lido will bring open-air swimming to the financial district.
Set to open in summer 2026, the project includes:
- A fully lifeguarded six-lane pool with a uniform depth of 1.3 metres
- Naturally filtered dock water, separated from the Thames
- Saunas, community clubhouse, fitness sessions, and dining options
Subject to planning approval, the floating lido is being touted as a major lifestyle upgrade for London’s urban dwellers.
As London continues to evolve, the approval of the 130 Fenchurch Street towers underscores a bigger narrative: a capital city not just preserving its heritage but reimagining it layer by layer, brick by brick, and now, tower by tower.
From ground-level eateries to skyline-view terraces, the Square Mile is turning into more than just a business hub. It’s becoming a living, breathing destination, ambitious, architectural, and unmistakably modern.
Stay tuned. London’s skyline is rising again.
