SOM-designed scheme to replace 1980s complex near Barbican
Lipton Rogers has submitted a full planning application to replace law firm Linklaters’ City of London headquarters with two 20-storey towers.
Designed by SOM, the 1 Silk Street scheme would see the demolition of a 1980s office complex near the Barbican and the construction of a pair of buildings containing 91,000 sq m of commercial space.
It would also include 2,200sq m of retail and community space and 2,400 sq m of public realm including a new public plaza at the main entrance to the Barbican Arts Centre.
Lipton Rogers, which is working on the scheme as development manager on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management, said the plans were a “bold architectural vision” for the site which would heighten the visibility of the Barbican and help revive the area’s street scene.
The 1 Silk Street site is currently occupied by two linked buildings of 13 and 17 storeys, Milton House and Shire House, which were built in 1982 and extensively remodelled in 1996.
Lipton Rogers said the two blocks will soon be made unlettable due to requirements for commercial buildings to have a minimum EPC rating of C set to come into force next year.
Linklaters, the current site’s main occupier, is set to move into new headquarters in 2026 at 20 Ropemaker, the 25-storey building in the east of the City designed by Make and built by Skanska which was being fitted out by ISG before the contractor’s collapse, with the interior work subsequently being taken on by Structure Tone.
SOM’s plans for the Silk Street site would demolish the existing buildings down to ground level but retain their basement and foundations, which account to around 40% of the existing structure.
The replacement scheme would include multiple levels of green terraces, street-level planting and new trees, which Lipton Rogers said would result in a 352% biodiversity increase compared to what is currently on the site.
Kent Jackson, partner at SOM, said the firm’s vision was to deliver a “new landmark” for this part of London that “introduces dynamic retail and cultural spaces, creates new public realm, and strengthens important pedestrian connections”.
“Expanding upon the area’s existing cultural legacy, these elements will help to reimagine this corner of the city as a vibrant destination whilst creating a bold new architecture that has a positive contribution to the City of London’s Destination City strategy,” Jackson said.
Demolition of the site expected to take around 12 months and construction of the new scheme taking three and a half years. The completed building is scheduled to open in 2032.
Other firms working on the scheme include engineer Arup and planning consultant DP9.
The 1 Silk Street site neighbours another major office development designed by Make, the refurbishment of the 1980s building at 48 Chiswell Street for Berkeley Estate Asset Management.
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