The City of London Corporation’s Planning Applications Sub-Committee has today approved plans for the redevelopment of 1 Silk Street, delivering a part 16 and part 20-storey, mixed-use office-led scheme alongside improvements to the public spaces next to the Barbican.

The approved proposals will replace the existing 1980s office building with a high-quality, best-in-class and sustainable development, providing approximately 86,000 sqm of Grade A office space, alongside new cultural, retail and community spaces. The public realm improvements will include a new public plaza opposite the Barbican Centre entrance and improved pedestrian connections through the site.

The decision follows extensive consultation and revisions, with changes made to the design, scale and impacts of the scheme, in response to feedback from local residents, statutory consultees, and the wider community.

The development is a key example of how the City Corporation is delivering its Destination City growth strategy, ensuring the Square Mile remains a global magnet for business, talent and investment, while also becoming a more vibrant, inclusive and welcoming place to work, live, learn and explore.

By delivering high-quality, sustainable workspace in a highly connected location, the scheme will help meet strong demand for next-generation office space and support the continued growth of London’s economy, reinforcing the City’s competitiveness on the global stage.

At the same time, the introduction of, retail and community spaces, alongside improved routes linking Moorgate and Liverpool Street to the Barbican, will play an important role in increasing footfall across the week, supporting hospitality, cultural activity and strengthening the City’s appeal as a seven-day destination.

The scheme also reflects the emerging priorities of the City Plan 2040, supporting the delivery of sustainable growth, inclusive public spaces and world-class urban design, while opening up access to one of London’s leading cultural institutions. By creating new, free-to-access routes and places, it will contribute to a more accessible, people-focused Square Mile and improve the everyday experience of residents, workers and visitors.

Sustainability is central to the approved plans, with a substantial proportion of the existing structure retained to reduce embodied carbon alongside ambitious environmental performance targets, urban greening and improved biodiversity, contributing to the City Corporation’s wider net zero and climate resilience ambitions, with its fully funded Climate Action Strategy.

Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee, said:

“The scheme that was approved by the committee was a stronger one than the early proposals, shaped by a long period of pre-application work and consultation with residents and statutory consultees.

“The daylight impact on Barbican homes and the way the building meets the street were both reworked along the way. What it now delivers is a much needed, high-quality workspace, with the retention of much of the existing structure rather than demolition.

“Crucially, it will also transform the public realm around the Barbican, with a new public route and plaza, open to all, creating a more welcoming, inclusive environment, with new cultural and community spaces that increase the City’s vibrancy across the week.”