2021 City office approvals already close to last year’s total

Planners have already this year approved nearly 80% of the total office floorspace that they waved through last year in the Square Mile, as developers continue pushing for City office buildings despite the pandemic. The City of London Corporation has already approved more than 2m sq ft of office space in the first quarter, compared with a total of 2.58m sq ft throughout the whole of last year, with three major tower projects making up the majority. Patrick Wong’s two towers on Gracechurch Street, and British Land’s development at 2 Finsbury Avenue, have already been given the green light this year in a flurry of approvals described by the City’s planning chief as a “vote of confidence” in the financial centre. Alastair Moss, chair of the City of London Corporation planning committee, said: “Many City businesses have adapted relatively well to working from home, but demand to return to the office is certainly growing.  “We are increasingly hearing that workers are growing fatigued with remote working, and employers are also keen to get back to the office once government restrictions are eased.  “The City has been able to adapt through the last year based on many years of connections and relationships grown in an office environment and, while there can be more flexibility going forward, the tried and tested ways of working pre-pandemic look set to continue.”  To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@egi.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @estatesgazette Image © Karol Kozlowski/imageBROKER/Shutterstock