New skyscraper to boast London’s highest restaurant

Plans for a new skyscraper in the City of London could see Londoners dining at greater heights than ever before.

When finally approved, the new building, officially dubbed ‘1 Undershaft’, is earmarked for construction in St Helen’s Plaza where the Aviva Tower currently stands.

Despite being 309.6 metres or 73-storeys tall it will still be a shade smaller than the Shard on the other side of the river.

Nonetheless, its observation deck will be higher than the Shard’s and it will reportedly boast the highest restaurant in the capital, if not in the whole of Europe.

Commissioned by Singapore-based company, Aroland Holdings, it has been designed by Eric Perry Architects.

Plans for the building have been around since this summer and are still subject to approval by the City of London Corporation.

And, yes, it does already have a nickname to match the ‘Walkie-Talkie’, ‘Cheesegrater’ and ‘Gherkin’ in the immediate vicinity. A cross-hatched design on the sides of the building has led some to dub it ‘The Trellis’.