City of London Corporation to approve new wave of office and co-living schemes
The City of London Corporation is expected to approve a series of major planning applications this week, signalling a fresh phase of development across the Square Mile. The projects, a mix of sustainable office retrofits and co-living accommodation, come just as City leaders head to Leeds for the UK’s largest real estate and infrastructure conference, UK REiiF.
This latest flurry of approvals reinforces the City’s pitch to global investors: that the Square Mile isn’t just back, it’s evolving, with flexible workspace, greener buildings and new housing models tailored to modern urban life.
Among the most prominent schemes is a retrofit and extension at Milton Gate on Chiswell Street. Retaining more than 70% of its existing substructure, the plan will provide an additional 13,230 square metres of prime office space while significantly cutting down on embodied carbon. New retail units at ground level and much-needed planting along the building frontage will bring life back to an area previously lacking in street-level activity.
Just off Queen Victoria Street, a second retrofit at number 60 will deliver over 16,000 square metres of refurbished office space, including a new roof terrace and balconies on every floor, a clear nod to the growing demand for access to outdoor areas within the workplace.
Elsewhere, a shift in how people live and work is reflected in a new co-living development at 150 Minories. The former office block will be converted and extended to provide 277 compact living units, aimed at younger professionals and key workers. Alongside the housing, the scheme will also open up a new pedestrian route through to Vine Street, where a small public park is set to be created. The developer has also agreed to contribute £13 million towards affordable housing in nearby boroughs, a move that may help ease the pressure on the City’s neighbours.
At Faryners House on Monument Street, plans include over 13,000 square metres of flexible office space and a new cultural and visitor centre. The design exceeds green space requirements through a combination of cascading terraces, green roofs and native planting. Footpaths and road surfaces around the site will also be upgraded to improve access.
Tom Sleigh, Chair of the Planning and Transport Committee at the City of London Corporation, described the projects as part of a wider commitment to “sustainable growth, cultural enrichment, and inclusivity.” He emphasised that with 96% of City offices within a five-minute walk of a tube station, the area remains one of the best-connected business districts in the world – and demand for quality pre-let space is only growing.
If you’re interested in how places like the City are being reshaped to balance work, living and green space, the Urban Land Institute shares practical insights on sustainable planning and how mixed-use developments can actually work in real life.
For more updates on City of London planning decisions, sustainable office design and co-living trends, visit EyeOnLondon City. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.
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