Plans for Blackfriars Tower approved

The Blackfriars area of the capital has gone under significant redevelopment recently. The new train station opened earlier this year, becoming the only station with platforms spanning the River Thames, while a number of buildings including residential and retail space have been sprouting up across the neighbourhood.

But it seems the development project isn't done yet, as planning permission has just been approved for a landmark 50-storey, 170m residential building on the south side of Blackfriars Bridge.

The project, proposed by the Berkeley Group will stand at the prestigious-sounding address 1 Blackfriars and will be nearly the same height as Tower 42 in the City of London, reports Construction Enquirer.

Previously, the site was owned by Beetham and its Russian partner Mirax, but when the firms began to experience financial difficulties, they sold the property to St George, the luxury homes arm of Berkeley, which is also working on the Vauxhall Tower Scheme.

The new owners decided to keep architect Ian Simpson's original design, but reworked the interior layout to incorporate some 270 high-end apartments.

The proposal was approved by Southwark Borough Council and will comprise the construction of three buildings. As well as the main tower, there will be a 16-storey hotel and a podium building.

In addition, Berkeley has promised to give £29 million to build council housing in order to meet social housing commitments.

The next step in the process will be to send the planning application to the mayor of London, and it's expected to go ahead, as Boris Johnson has yet to turn down a major project in the city centre.

If everything goes as planned, work on the site should begin towards the end of 2014.

Once completed, the property will provide a number of new flats to rent in Blackfriars, and it's safe to say that these will be extremely popular due to their central location and easy transport links to the south coast for weekend getaways - a train to Brighton from Blackfriars takes just an hour and a half.

Posted by Chris Price

Published 11th October, 2012

© 2012 Estates IT Limited