KPF’s 33-storey Gracechurch Street proposal comes after building of similar height on same road attracted neighbours’ ire

Plans for a second tower a stone’s throw away from proposals for a 32-storey block in the Square Mile have been sent into City of London planners.

Hong Kong firm Tenacity is already behind Fletcher Priest’s plan for the first scheme at 55 Gracechurch Street.

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The scheme will be just around the corner from the Walkie Talkie

Now the firm has hired KPF to draw up plans for a larger scheme, a 33-storey building at 70-75 Gracechurch Street.

Explaining the move, the chairman of Tenacity Patrick Wong said: “We remain optimistic about the future of both the City of London and of the office and we are committed to investing in the City of London through the redevelopment of both our projects at 55 and 70 Gracechurch Street.

“The [covid-19] pandemic has led to questions about the long-term future of the office, however we believe that it presents an opportunity rather than a threat to the office. The ‘right’ office space will become more important than ever as will the flexibility we as business owners offer the workforce. Post-covid the social element is pivotal, as is a new era of self-governance among all stakeholders. London, like every other major city, will play its part in the great global rebuild.”

The site is currently occupied by a 10-storey building completed in 2001, comprising a Marks & Spencer department store on the ground floor with office space above.

It was previously home to a 26-storey building designed by Richard Seifert at the end of the 1960s. It was a headquarters for Barclays Bank, who moved out in the mid-1990s, before it was knocked down in 1998.

KPF’s original plan was for a 228m tall building but this was scaled back to 155m following discussions with City planners and Historic England last year. Instead, the submitted plan is for a scheme featuring “three interconnected slender tower elements, which taper towards the top”.

Consultants working on the scheme include QS Alinea, structural engineer Robert Bird and MEP engineer DSA.

Tenacity’s proposal for 55 Gracechurch Street has already drawn the ire of government heritage adviser Historic England as well as neighbouring offices.

Historic England is objecting, saying it will damage views of both the Tower of London and Tower Bridge while several freeholders of nearby offices have complained it will blight their daylight and damage their occupiers’ health.

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The scheme will be just around the corner from the Walkie Talkie