This NLA Insight Study brings together a mass of data regarding planning applications for tall buildings that is available through the planning portals of local authorities, together with published and unpublished future plans for developments, in order to highlight some of the massive changes that are taking place in the capital over the next couple of decades.

As a result of the exponential growth in London's population, the Mayor and the boroughs have to deliver new homes at a scale not seen since the 1930s, but unlike the 1930s, covering great swathes of Metroland is no answer to our current problems. We need to conserve our land area just as we need to conserve all natural resources - and that means increasing densities.

While in theory increased density does not mean building tall buildings, it is only on large sites with a coherent masterplan that the full benefits of low to mid-rise high-density can be developed. In the sort of smaller, expensive sites generally found in the Central Activity Zone (CAZ), the pressure to build tall - in the present planning system - is hard to resist.

Published April 2014.

This NLA Insight Study brings together a mass of data regarding planning applications for tall buildings that is available through the planning portals of local authorities, together with published and unpublished future plans for developments, in order to highlight some of the massive changes that are taking place in the capital over the next couple of decades.

As a result of the exponential growth in London’s population, the Mayor and the boroughs have to deliver new homes at a scale not seen since the 1930s, but unlike the 1930s, covering great swathes of Metroland is no answer to our current problems. We need to conserve our land area just as we need to conserve all natural resources – and that means increasing densities.

While in theory increased density does not mean building tall buildings, it is only on large sites with a coherent masterplan that the full benefits of low to mid-rise high density can be developed. In the sort of smaller, expensive sites generally found in the Central Activity Zone (CAZ), the pressure to build tall – in the present planning system – is hard to resist. 

NLA believes that an open and informed debate about the pressures of housing a fast growing city, and the resulting solutions, is essential in the development of a better city. The scale of change revealed in this study will come as a surprise to many and we believe the debate that emerges will have a positive impact on the quality of buildings that will enhance our skyline in the future.

Map
Location of future tall buildings in London

Chapter 1:
What determines the scale and location of tall buildings?

Chapter 2:
50 years of tall buildings in London

Chapter 3:
The current wave of tall towers 54

Chapter 4:
Key areas of growth 70

Chapter 5:
London’s future skyline

Project Showcase