Scheme will involve replacing 1960s building with 18-storey office block

David Walker Architects’ proposals to redevelop a 1960s office building in the City of London with a much taller steel-and-glass structure have been approved.

The practice’s scheme, drawn up for site freeholder Metropolitan Properites, willl replace 11-storey Tenter House, on Moorfields, with an 18-storey structure that almost doubles the existing building’s floorspace.

Others working on the scheme include structural engineer AKTII, building services consultant Watkins Payne and project manager Buro Four. JLL is planning consultant.

David Walker Architects' proposals for the redevelopment of Tenter House in the City of London, seen from Ropemaker Street

David Walker Architects’ proposals for the redevelopment of Tenter House in the City of London, seen from Ropemaker Street

It would be one block from the architect’s 112m The Heron, the largest residential tower built in the City for 30 years when it was completed in 2013.

At 88m in height, the new building would deliver 28,806sq m of floorspace – predominantly for office use, up from the current building’s 15,465sq m. The new structure would include six roof terraces and four internal winter gardens for the use of office occupiers.

Chris Hayward, the City’s planning and transportation chair, said: “This development fits in well with the City’s ambitious future growth. Its retail offering, six roof terraces and four internal winter gardens, demonstrate the new class of office space in the pipeline.”

The City of London said David Walker’s proposals had attracted opposition from some residents of the nearby Barbican Estate, who voiced concerns over the impact of the roof terraces earmarked for the new building, as well as loss of light from the taller structure.

But recommending the proposals for approval to members of the City’s planning and transportation committee, officers said the scale and massing of the new building corresponded to height of Wilkinson Eyre’s nearby 21 Moorfields building which was approved in February.

Tenter House, seen across City Point Plaza. The building is earmarked for demolition under proposals drawn up by David Walker Architects

Source: Google Maps

Tenter House, seen across City Point Plaza. The building is earmarked for demolition under proposals drawn up by David Walker Architects