The City of London Corporation has resolved to grant planning permission to US insurance company WR Berkley for it's 38-storey 'Scalpel' skyscraper at Lime Street in London's Square Mile.
The building will reach 206 metres in height and provide 58,197 square metres of office space as well as shops and restaurants and a new open space on the west side of the development at the junction of Lime Street and Leadenhall Street.
"We are acting as financier, developer and occupier so these plans represent a real, financial and physical commitment to London," said Berkley chairman William R. Berkley according to BBC reports http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21027791. "Today's decision moves us a step closer to making our plans a reality."
Westminster City Council's planning committee resolved to grant permission to the Crown Estate's £450 million mixed-use development at St James's Market in London's SW1.
The scheme will include a commercial redevelopment of two blocks at 14-20 Regent Street and 52-56 Haymarket to create 211,000 square feet of office space and 50,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant accommodation. The Haymarket building is set to be demolished and replaced with a new eight storey office buildings whilst the Regent Street building will be demolished behind retained facades and an eight storey retail and office building will be constructed.
"We're delighted to be given a green light from Westminster for St James's Market; this a major tipping point for our St James's investment programme," said the Crown Estate's head of St James's portfolio, James Cooksey.
"Add this to our Gateway scheme, set for completion this summer, and refurbishments at Trafalgar House and British Columbia House, and it's clear we are delivering one of the most significant West End transformations since we started in Regent Street."
