Tenacity unveils plans for all-electric City tower

Tenacity Group is hoping to build London’s first all-electric tower. The Hong Kong investor has launched a public consultation on its plans for 31-storey scheme at 55 Gracechurch Street, EC3. Despite being four times the size of the current 85,724 sq ft block currently on the site, Tenacity said it expected the new 410,966 sq ft  development to use just a quarter of the energy of the existing building. It is also aiming for the tower to be net zero carbon by 2030. Patrick Wong, founder and chief executive of Tenacity, said: “We believe that our proposals at 55 Gracechurch Street will be an exemplar in a new generation of office-led buildings, embracing sustainability but also seeking to diversify the occupier base in the Square Mile reflecting the changing nature of the City. “By reinstating historic routes we can also significantly increase permeability through our site and improve the pedestrian experience in the Eastern Cluster more broadly at a time when this has never been more important. “The ongoing pandemic has raised many questions about the future of the office, but at Tenacity we are quite clear that the era of the office is not over. Rather, the lockdown has emphasised the importance of having a place to share ideas, to collaborate and innovate. We want 55 Gracechurch Street to be such a space.” Formed of two blocks, with the western block sitting atop a publicly accessible terrace and garden at level six, the proposed building will also use an all-air temperature control system which uses between 80% and 100% outside air at all times. This would mean that no mechanical cooling would be needed and there would be a significant reduction in recirculated air. Designed by Fletcher Priest Architects, the new building’s floorplates will be suitable for SMEs and start-ups, which it is hoped will act as a catalyst to diversify the occupier base in the City, Tenacity said. The public realm available at the site will be increased by around 5,167 sq ft, through the opening up of the ground floor to host a range of interactive spaces and the creation of a new pedestrian route through the building connecting Gracechurch Street and Philpot Lane. Above this will be event and conference spaces before the office space starts at level seven. Tenacity acquired the building in 2018 from DTZ Investors for £69m. It is currently mainly leased to Royal London. The online public consultation at www.55gracechurchstreet.co.uk will run until 22 July, with a planning application expected to be submitted in August and a decision by the City of London Corporation in the autumn. To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette