July 1, 2002—Due to Londons growing population the capital needs more high-rise buildings, says a report by the London School of Economics.
LSE estimates that London will require five to seven times the amount of extra office space currently provided at Canary Wharf, over the next 25 years. To accommodate for this, higher density developments will be essential says the report.
Earlier this month, property company Minerva announced its plans to build Londons tallest building. LSE claims this is the way forward since developers consistently have been able to fill towers with tenants and command high rents.
The report also says planners need a more positive attitude towards tall buildings, suggesting London should learn from other cities such as New York, Paris, Frankfurt and Berlin. Unlike London, which only has a policy stating where high-rise blocks may not be built, these cities have a policy which defines where tall buildings may be sited.
—Jessica Jarlvi
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2002 i-FM
