Developers behind the proposed 1 Silk Street office scheme have reduced the height of the project in a renewed effort to secure planning approval from the City of London Corporation and address concerns raised by Barbican residents. Lipton Rogers and LaSalle Investment Management have submitted revised plans for the Skidmore,
A prominent mixed-use block within London’s so-called ‘Tech Belt’ has changed hands, with Berkeley Homes completing the sale of the retail and leisure element of Goodman’s Fields in Aldgate to an undisclosed purchaser. The 7-acre Goodman’s Fields estate occupies a key position on the eastern fringe of the City of
The project represents Costco’s first warehouse in Gloucestershire and further strengthens Glencar’s portfolio across large-scale developments alongside its established industrial and logistics workload. Following three months on site, the steel frame is now complete, earthworks are nearing completion and cladding and roofing works are progressing, with the next key milestone
With Netflix’s Being Gordon Ramsay now streaming, viewers are given a glimpse inside one of London’s most recognisable towers – 22 Bishopsgate. While the spotlight falls on Ramsay’s new Lucky Cat restaurant, the opening episode also highlights the architectural ambition behind the building itself. Designed by PLP Architecture, 22 Bishopsgate
Developers behind the proposed 1 Silk Street office scheme have reduced the height of the project in a renewed effort to secure planning approval from the City of London Corporation and address concerns raised by Barbican residents. Lipton Rogers and LaSalle Investment Management have submitted revised plans for the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed building, trimming more than 10 metres from the western side of the block. Three storeys have been removed from the section facing Cromwell Tower, following criticism over daylight loss, massing and the impact on the neighbouring Barbican Estate. Under the updated proposals, the western portion of the building will now rise only three storeys above the existing Linklaters headquarters it is set to replace, rather than six as previously planned. The eastern side of the scheme will retain its original height, maintaining alignment with the taller commercial buildings nearby. The design team says the revisions significantly reduce visual and daylight impacts. External terraces have been removed to prevent overlooking, while measures including obscured glazing, façade fins and automated blinds have been incorporated to address privacy concerns. Despite the reduction in scale, the scheme will still provide 91,142 sq m of Grade A office accommodation, approximately five per cent less than initially proposed. The development is aimed at large trading-floor occupiers, with market forecasts suggesting a potential shortfall of prime office space in the City by 2028. Public realm and cultural elements have also been strengthened. Plans include a new plaza on Silk Street to create a clearer gateway to the Barbican Centre, alongside a redesigned 2,282 sq m public realm and a pedestrian arcade linking Moorgate and Liverpool Street directly to the Barbican. In addition, nearly 1,300 sq m of retail and restaurant space is proposed, together with a new performance venue, Silk Street Hall, and a community-focused Creative Community Lab, reinforcing the scheme’s ambition to blend commercial development with cultural and civic benefit. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A prominent mixed-use block within London’s so-called ‘Tech Belt’ has changed hands, with Berkeley Homes completing the sale of the retail and leisure element of Goodman’s Fields in Aldgate to an undisclosed purchaser. The 7-acre Goodman’s Fields estate occupies a key position on the eastern fringe of the City of London. In May 2025, Berkeley brought 12 ground-floor commercial units to the investment market, offering a total of 38,717 sq ft of retail and leisure accommodation. At the point of sale, the units were fully let to a diverse mix of occupiers spanning retail, food and beverage, leisure and fitness. Tenants include Amazon Fresh, Pizza Union, Boom Battle Bar, Power-Up Tavern, Kova Patisserie, 12X3 Boxing, Movement Labs, Zia Lucia, DanDan Noodle, Tian Tian Market, Sai Pharmacy and Knife-Sliced Noodles, reflecting the estate’s appeal as a vibrant destination within a high-density urban neighbourhood. The wider Goodman’s Fields development has transformed the former check clearing office site into a substantial mixed-use quarter comprising more than 1 million sq ft of accommodation. The scheme includes over 1,000 homes, a 250-bed hotel and in excess of 600 student beds, alongside landscaped public realm and commercial space. Positioned close to London’s financial district, the area has evolved into a hub for technology and digital businesses, with major firms such as Blockchain, Uber, Lebara, BT, Monzo and Onfido located nearby. The strength of this surrounding occupier base underpins continued investor interest in mixed-use assets that combine residential density with active ground-floor commercial frontage. GCW and CBRE acted on behalf of Berkeley Homes in the transaction, while Knight Frank advised the purchaser. The deal attracted attention across leading property and business media, highlighting sustained demand for well-located, income-producing mixed-use estates in central London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The project represents Costco’s first warehouse in Gloucestershire and further strengthens Glencar’s portfolio across large-scale developments alongside its established industrial and logistics workload. Following three months on site, the steel frame is now complete, earthworks are nearing completion and cladding and roofing works are progressing, with the next key milestone being achievement of a watertight building envelope. Once complete, the development will include a nine-pump petrol station with tyre fitting bay, 612 customer parking spaces and a new vehicle access off Chancel Close. The 13,000 sq m warehouse is being delivered under a design and build contract and comprises a wide-span steel portal frame structure, feature entrance canopy, vertical composite cladding systems and a roof-mounted solar PV array. The external works package includes car parking, HGV hardstanding, drainage infrastructure, service installations and associated civils across the wider 44,000 sq m development site, progressing in parallel with the main build. Roy Jones, Managing Director at Glencar, said: “This is a substantial scheme that brings together structural steel, civils, infrastructure and sustainability within a live delivery programme. We are working closely with Costco and the wider project team to maintain programme certainty as construction progresses toward completion in 2026.” Paul Landen, Construction Director Europe, Costco commented: “Glencar is making good progress on site as works continue to advance on our Gloucester warehouse. This development represents an important addition to our UK estate, and we look forward to delivering a high-quality facility for our members in 2026.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With Netflix’s Being Gordon Ramsay now streaming, viewers are given a glimpse inside one of London’s most recognisable towers – 22 Bishopsgate. While the spotlight falls on Ramsay’s new Lucky Cat restaurant, the opening episode also highlights the architectural ambition behind the building itself. Designed by PLP Architecture, 22 Bishopsgate was conceived as a “Vertical Village” – a mixed-use tower that integrates work, hospitality, wellness and culture from the outset. Ramsay describes the 60th floor restaurant space as “an iconic building in the middle of the city”, remarking on its 27,000 sq ft footprint and dramatic scale. Yet Lucky Cat is more than a restaurant with panoramic views; it represents the realisation of a design philosophy embedded into the project from day one. Nearly 13 per cent of the building is dedicated to amenity space, significantly above the London Grade A office average. Restaurants, bars, landscaped terraces and London’s highest free public viewing gallery are distributed throughout the upper levels, opening the tower to the public and redefining the traditional commercial skyscraper model. At level 60, Lucky Cat pairs Asian-inspired dining with an open kitchen concept and sweeping views across the capital. Its position at the summit reinforces the building’s commitment to experience-led design, where hospitality is not an afterthought but a defining feature. More broadly, 22 Bishopsgate reflects a shift in workplace architecture. By embedding destination hospitality within commercial towers, developers can create vibrant ecosystems that promote wellbeing, encourage collaboration and enhance tenant appeal. Lee Polisano, co-founder and partner at PLP Architecture, said the original vision was to create an integrated vertical village in the sky, seamlessly blending work and entertainment. With Lucky Cat now complete, he believes the final piece of that vision has fallen into place, fulfilling the building’s intended purpose as a landmark for modern city living and working. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals