£85m London ‘greening’ office expansion approved

Joint venture developers Topland Group and Beltaine have secured planning permission to expand and overhaul an office near the Barbican in London.City of London planners gave the go-ahead, backing it for meeting the key aims of greening of the Square Mile and more open spaces in the City Plan 2036.As part of this, all new developments and refurbishments will be required to include a greening element to the building or public realm to contribute to improving biodiversity, rainwater run-off, air and noise pollution, temperature regulation, and making the City a more visually desirable business location.The proposal will see the amalgamation of the buildings at 150 Aldersgate Street and 3-4 Bartholomew Place through a full re-clad and extension while retaining the structural frame.The refurbished building will include two additional set-back storeys and a pavilion at level 10, providing modern office facilities and a public café on the ground floor.The project is presently out to tender with Willmott Dixon understood to be among a group of firms targeting the 17,000 sq m office project.Fletcher Priest designed overhaul of 150 Aldersgate near the BarbicanThe development, at the heart of the Culture Mile, will also improve pedestrian experience and offers more than 250 cycle parks.