Wong hopes for second City tower approval in matter of weeks

Hong Kong property developer Patrick Wong is set to score planning approval for his second City of London skyscraper of the year next week, with authorities expected to sign off on a 34-storey tower at 70 Gracechurch Street, EC3. Wong’s company, Tenacity, last month got the green light to build another tower just yards down the road at 55 Gracechurch Street, in a move described as a “vote of confidence in the City” by planners. The latest scheme would involve demolishing the current eight-storey building at the site which borders Fenchurch Street and Gracechurch Street, which Tenacity bought for £271m three years ago, and which sits alongside listed City watering hole The Ship Tavern. Proposals submitted to the City of London planning committee would see it replaced with 600,000 sq ft of office and retail space. The neighbouring pub would be unharmed, planners say. The proposed scheme would also incorporate “extensive urban greening”, according to planning documents, including large planted terraces on the building’s podium level, as well as on the roof. The committee meets next week. To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@egi.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @estatesgazette Image © Tenacity