A giant new London skyscraper would be nearly as tall as The Shard.

London’s skyline could be in for a dramatic transformation, with plans for a massive new skyscraper now on the horizon. The proposed building would rise in the heart of the city, close to the famous Gherkin, and replace the current Exchequer Court office block on St Mary Axe. According to a proposal from the site’s owner, US insurer AmTrust, the redesigned tower would stretch to 70 storeys and nearly 300 metres tall, making it almost as high as The Shard.

At that height, it would also overshadow nearby landmarks, including the Gherkin and the Cheesegrater. Reports say the development would create around 100,000 square metres of office space, while also offering several public amenities, much like other new skyscrapers appearing across London. The first seven floors of the building would be open to the public and include cultural, exhibition, and event spaces.

A double-height landscaped garden would also be open to visitors on the seventh floor, with views of the Gherkin, and there are reports that a rooftop garden is planned as well. Construction Enquirer reports that the design is intended to “respect” the views of the Grade I-listed St Helen’s Bishopsgate Church in the St Helen’s Place Conservation Area. The tower will also have a set-back design to create a public courtyard nearby.

So when could the new Exchequer Court tower be completed? The plans are still being consulted on, but AmTrust, which bought the site for £105 million in 2017, is expected to submit a planning application in early 2027 and hopes to complete the redevelopment by 2033. And it is not the only major skyscraper project set to reshape the City of London.

A £1 billion tower called One London will replace St Helen’s Tower, near Exchequer Court and between the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin. The 74-storey building is set to feature Europe’s highest publicly accessible viewing gallery, with sweeping views across the city. Elsewhere in London, the iconic BT Tower is being converted into a luxury hotel with a rooftop pool, a 360-degree revolving observation deck, and new retail space.

Meanwhile, in south London, several new skyscrapers are rising in Vauxhall, with plans for homes, student accommodation, another hotel, and a range of retail and leisure facilities.