London’s skyline is entering a new phase of vertical growth, with a fresh generation of supertall and tall towers either rising on site or moving through active delivery stages across the capital. While earlier skyline-defining projects such as The Shard, 22 Bishopsgate and the Leadenhall Building established the first modern wave of high-rise construction, the current cycle is being shaped by a more complex combination of commercial demand, sustainability pressures, public-access expectations and tighter regulatory oversight.
The centre of gravity remains the City of London’s Eastern Cluster, where several major towers are now either under construction or progressing through demolition, enabling works and pre-construction delivery. At the same time, schemes in Nine Elms and Canary Wharf continue to show that London’s vertical growth is not limited to the Square Mile alone. What makes the current tower pipeline significant is not only height, but the fact that these developments increasingly combine commercial intensity with public viewing spaces, biodiversity features, all-electric strategies and more demanding compliance expectations under the Building Safety Act.
These projects also sit within a broader market context that LCM has already examined in its analysis of the City of London planning pipeline and 2026 delivery signals, which highlighted the scale of new office floorspace and planning momentum now shaping London’s next construction cycle.
Understanding which skyscrapers are progressing, and what they reveal about London’s construction economy, offers a clearer view of where investment, contractor capacity and design ambition are now concentrated.
The centre of gravity remains the City of London’s Eastern Cluster, where several major towers are now either under construction or progressing through demolition, enabling works and pre-construction delivery. At the same time, schemes in Nine Elms and Canary Wharf continue to show that London’s vertical growth is not limited to the Square Mile alone. What makes the current tower pipeline significant is not only height, but the fact that these developments increasingly combine commercial intensity with public viewing spaces, biodiversity features, all-electric strategies and more demanding compliance expectations under the Building Safety Act.
These projects also sit within a broader market context that LCM has already examined in its analysis of the City of London planning pipeline and 2026 delivery signals, which highlighted the scale of new office floorspace and planning momentum now shaping London’s next construction cycle.
Understanding which skyscrapers are progressing, and what they reveal about London’s construction economy, offers a clearer view of where investment, contractor capacity and design ambition are now concentrated.
Which Skyscrapers Are Shaping London’s Next Skyline Cycle
The biggest skyscrapers under construction in London right now are concentrated primarily in the City of London, where a cluster of major office-led towers is redefining the capital’s commercial core. These projects vary in delivery stage: some are visibly rising through superstructure construction, while others are in demolition, substructure or enabling phases that mark the start of active delivery. Taken together, they form the most significant current wave of high-rise development in London and reflect a market that continues to invest in premium, sustainable and public-facing tall buildings despite cost pressure, regulatory friction and uncertain global economic conditions.
The biggest skyscrapers under construction in London right now are concentrated primarily in the City of London, where a cluster of major office-led towers is redefining the capital’s commercial core. These projects vary in delivery stage: some are visibly rising through superstructure construction, while others are in demolition, substructure or enabling phases that mark the start of active delivery. Taken together, they form the most significant current wave of high-rise development in London and reflect a market that continues to invest in premium, sustainable and public-facing tall buildings despite cost pressure, regulatory friction and uncertain global economic conditions.
1 Undershaft: The Future Height Benchmark
At 309.6 metres and 74 storeys, 1 Undershaft is set to become one of the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom, matching The Shard’s height and establishing a new visual anchor within the City’s Eastern Cluster.
Although the tower is not yet rising above ground, it remains one of the most important skyscraper projects currently moving through active delivery because demolition and pre-construction stages are now critical to its trajectory. The scheme’s importance lies not only in its eventual height but in what it represents for the City of London: a long-term commitment to premium office space, public access and skyline-defining architecture.
Designed by Eric Parry Architects, the project includes significant public-facing elements, including elevated viewing spaces and cultural uses, which illustrate how London’s tallest new buildings are being asked to contribute more to the public realm than previous generations of commercial towers.
From an LCM intelligence perspective, 1 Undershaft is best understood not simply as a future landmark but as a signal of how London continues to position its commercial core for the next decade of global capital competition.
At 309.6 metres and 74 storeys, 1 Undershaft is set to become one of the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom, matching The Shard’s height and establishing a new visual anchor within the City’s Eastern Cluster.
Although the tower is not yet rising above ground, it remains one of the most important skyscraper projects currently moving through active delivery because demolition and pre-construction stages are now critical to its trajectory. The scheme’s importance lies not only in its eventual height but in what it represents for the City of London: a long-term commitment to premium office space, public access and skyline-defining architecture.
Designed by Eric Parry Architects, the project includes significant public-facing elements, including elevated viewing spaces and cultural uses, which illustrate how London’s tallest new buildings are being asked to contribute more to the public realm than previous generations of commercial towers.
From an LCM intelligence perspective, 1 Undershaft is best understood not simply as a future landmark but as a signal of how London continues to position its commercial core for the next decade of global capital competition.
55 Bishopsgate: Sustainability at Supertall Scale
Another major tower shaping the City cluster is 55 Bishopsgate, expected to rise to around 269–285 metres depending on measurement basis, across approximately 63 storeys.
The significance of 55 Bishopsgate lies in the way it combines height, commercial scale and environmental ambition. The scheme has been positioned as one of the City’s most sustainability-focused skyscrapers, with strong emphasis on embodied carbon efficiency, biodiversity and public access. Its design language is more explicitly shaped by climate resilience and whole-life performance than many earlier high-rise office buildings in London.
Although still earlier in the delivery cycle than some other towers, 55 Bishopsgate remains a major active skyline project because it helps define the direction of travel for London’s commercial market: fewer generic towers, more highly specified buildings designed to attract premium occupiers while also satisfying planning, environmental and reputational expectations.
This is particularly relevant in a market where viability is increasingly pressured by high build costs and compressed delivery margins. LCM previously explored this wider commercial context in London construction's margin crisis and geopolitical headwinds, which examined how cost inflation and external market shocks are affecting contractor pricing and project viability across the capital.
Another major tower shaping the City cluster is 55 Bishopsgate, expected to rise to around 269–285 metres depending on measurement basis, across approximately 63 storeys.
The significance of 55 Bishopsgate lies in the way it combines height, commercial scale and environmental ambition. The scheme has been positioned as one of the City’s most sustainability-focused skyscrapers, with strong emphasis on embodied carbon efficiency, biodiversity and public access. Its design language is more explicitly shaped by climate resilience and whole-life performance than many earlier high-rise office buildings in London.
Although still earlier in the delivery cycle than some other towers, 55 Bishopsgate remains a major active skyline project because it helps define the direction of travel for London’s commercial market: fewer generic towers, more highly specified buildings designed to attract premium occupiers while also satisfying planning, environmental and reputational expectations.
This is particularly relevant in a market where viability is increasingly pressured by high build costs and compressed delivery margins. LCM previously explored this wider commercial context in London construction's margin crisis and geopolitical headwinds, which examined how cost inflation and external market shocks are affecting contractor pricing and project viability across the capital.
100 Leadenhall Street: The Clearest True Construction Story
Among the major City towers, 100 Leadenhall Street, often known as “The Diamond,” represents one of the clearest examples of a major skyscraper visibly under construction right now.
At 263.4 metres and roughly 56–57 storeys, the tower sits firmly within London’s supertall commercial skyline race. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, its sharply tapered form and diamond-pattern façade make it one of the most recognisable additions to the City’s next skyline generation.
What makes 100 Leadenhall particularly important is that it bridges architectural ambition with practical delivery reality. It demonstrates that despite cost pressure, financing sensitivity and changing office demand patterns, there remains strong appetite for high-quality, premium office space in the Square Mile, particularly where schemes can meet modern expectations around efficiency, net-zero performance and occupier experience.
This tower therefore acts as both a skyline project and a market signal: London’s tallest office schemes are no longer just about maximising floorspace, but about delivering the specific type of Grade A stock that global occupiers still want to lease.
Among the major City towers, 100 Leadenhall Street, often known as “The Diamond,” represents one of the clearest examples of a major skyscraper visibly under construction right now.
At 263.4 metres and roughly 56–57 storeys, the tower sits firmly within London’s supertall commercial skyline race. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, its sharply tapered form and diamond-pattern façade make it one of the most recognisable additions to the City’s next skyline generation.
What makes 100 Leadenhall particularly important is that it bridges architectural ambition with practical delivery reality. It demonstrates that despite cost pressure, financing sensitivity and changing office demand patterns, there remains strong appetite for high-quality, premium office space in the Square Mile, particularly where schemes can meet modern expectations around efficiency, net-zero performance and occupier experience.
This tower therefore acts as both a skyline project and a market signal: London’s tallest office schemes are no longer just about maximising floorspace, but about delivering the specific type of Grade A stock that global occupiers still want to lease.
50 Fenchurch Street: Green Infrastructure Meets High-Rise Delivery
If 100 Leadenhall represents the clearest active construction story, 50 Fenchurch Street is arguably the most interesting from a construction intelligence perspective.
At approximately 150 metres and 36 storeys, it is not the tallest tower in the current wave, but it may be one of the most strategically revealing. The project combines a high-rise office scheme with extensive greening, all-electric operational intent and complex heritage integration. It also involves challenging substructure and engineering conditions in a highly constrained historic urban setting.
This matters because towers such as 50 Fenchurch show how London’s vertical construction market is evolving. High-rise projects are no longer judged solely by height and lettable area; they are increasingly assessed by how they address biodiversity, energy performance, public realm contribution and construction complexity.
From a delivery-risk perspective, projects like this also reveal why information quality, sequencing and coordination matter so much in 2026. Deep basements, retained structures, façade complexity and sustainability features all increase the importance of early-stage design integration. LCM previously explored this wider challenge in its analysis of why incomplete design is becoming a major London construction delay risk.
If 100 Leadenhall represents the clearest active construction story, 50 Fenchurch Street is arguably the most interesting from a construction intelligence perspective.
At approximately 150 metres and 36 storeys, it is not the tallest tower in the current wave, but it may be one of the most strategically revealing. The project combines a high-rise office scheme with extensive greening, all-electric operational intent and complex heritage integration. It also involves challenging substructure and engineering conditions in a highly constrained historic urban setting.
This matters because towers such as 50 Fenchurch show how London’s vertical construction market is evolving. High-rise projects are no longer judged solely by height and lettable area; they are increasingly assessed by how they address biodiversity, energy performance, public realm contribution and construction complexity.
From a delivery-risk perspective, projects like this also reveal why information quality, sequencing and coordination matter so much in 2026. Deep basements, retained structures, façade complexity and sustainability features all increase the importance of early-stage design integration. LCM previously explored this wider challenge in its analysis of why incomplete design is becoming a major London construction delay risk.
Beyond the City: Nine Elms and Canary Wharf Still Matter
Although the City of London dominates the current tower conversation, it is not the only part of the capital seeing significant high-rise activity.
Projects such as One Nine Elms in Vauxhall and Aspen at Consort Place in Canary Wharf show that vertical growth continues along the Thames corridor and in East London. These towers differ from the City cluster because they are more strongly tied to residential, hotel and mixed-use capital flows rather than pure office demand.
That contrast is important. The City’s tallest towers largely reflect confidence in premium commercial space, while Nine Elms and Canary Wharf schemes show how residential and mixed-use towers continue to shape London’s broader skyline economy. Together, these projects reinforce the idea that London’s vertical construction story is not a single-market phenomenon but a combination of multiple development logics operating simultaneously across the capital.
Although the City of London dominates the current tower conversation, it is not the only part of the capital seeing significant high-rise activity.
Projects such as One Nine Elms in Vauxhall and Aspen at Consort Place in Canary Wharf show that vertical growth continues along the Thames corridor and in East London. These towers differ from the City cluster because they are more strongly tied to residential, hotel and mixed-use capital flows rather than pure office demand.
That contrast is important. The City’s tallest towers largely reflect confidence in premium commercial space, while Nine Elms and Canary Wharf schemes show how residential and mixed-use towers continue to shape London’s broader skyline economy. Together, these projects reinforce the idea that London’s vertical construction story is not a single-market phenomenon but a combination of multiple development logics operating simultaneously across the capital.
What These Towers Say About London’s Construction Market
Taken together, the biggest skyscrapers progressing through construction or active delivery in London reveal several important market realities.
First, they show that premium quality still commands investment. Even in a period of elevated build costs and financing sensitivity, developers continue to back high-rise schemes where location, design quality and sustainability credentials are strong enough to attract long-term occupier or investor confidence.
Second, they confirm that tall-building delivery is becoming more demanding. The combination of deep basement engineering, heritage sensitivity, façade complexity, biodiversity targets and building safety compliance means that skyscraper construction in London now requires much tighter integration across design, procurement and regulatory approval.
Third, they suggest that public value is becoming part of the skyscraper brief. Viewing galleries, gardens, terraces and cultural uses now appear much more frequently within the current generation of towers than in earlier high-rise cycles. This reflects a planning and reputational environment in which major buildings are increasingly expected to contribute visibly to the city, not just to investor returns.
These pressures also connect directly to wider procurement and contractor behaviour across the capital. LCM previously analysed that shift in London construction tenders and Tier 1 procurement strategies, showing how major projects are increasingly moving away from simplistic low-bid logic and toward more risk-aware delivery models.
Taken together, the biggest skyscrapers progressing through construction or active delivery in London reveal several important market realities.
First, they show that premium quality still commands investment. Even in a period of elevated build costs and financing sensitivity, developers continue to back high-rise schemes where location, design quality and sustainability credentials are strong enough to attract long-term occupier or investor confidence.
Second, they confirm that tall-building delivery is becoming more demanding. The combination of deep basement engineering, heritage sensitivity, façade complexity, biodiversity targets and building safety compliance means that skyscraper construction in London now requires much tighter integration across design, procurement and regulatory approval.
Third, they suggest that public value is becoming part of the skyscraper brief. Viewing galleries, gardens, terraces and cultural uses now appear much more frequently within the current generation of towers than in earlier high-rise cycles. This reflects a planning and reputational environment in which major buildings are increasingly expected to contribute visibly to the city, not just to investor returns.
These pressures also connect directly to wider procurement and contractor behaviour across the capital. LCM previously analysed that shift in London construction tenders and Tier 1 procurement strategies, showing how major projects are increasingly moving away from simplistic low-bid logic and toward more risk-aware delivery models.
Building Safety and the New High-Rise Delivery Context
No skyscraper analysis in 2026 is complete without acknowledging the regulatory backdrop.
The Building Safety Act has changed the delivery environment for high-rise projects by increasing the amount of design evidence, coordination and compliance clarity required before major buildings can proceed through the construction lifecycle. While not every tower in this article sits under exactly the same regulatory category, the wider effect is clear: design teams, contractors and developers now operate in a more demanding information environment than they did during the first generation of London’s supertall office boom.
That change matters because the tallest projects in London are also the most exposed to coordination failure. Large tower schemes combine structural complexity, façade performance, vertical transport systems, fire strategy integration and public-access elements, all of which require clearer evidence and stronger cross-disciplinary alignment than before. LCM’s BSR and Gateway guidance for London projects, provides broader context on how the capital’s high-rise market is adapting to this regime.
No skyscraper analysis in 2026 is complete without acknowledging the regulatory backdrop.
The Building Safety Act has changed the delivery environment for high-rise projects by increasing the amount of design evidence, coordination and compliance clarity required before major buildings can proceed through the construction lifecycle. While not every tower in this article sits under exactly the same regulatory category, the wider effect is clear: design teams, contractors and developers now operate in a more demanding information environment than they did during the first generation of London’s supertall office boom.
That change matters because the tallest projects in London are also the most exposed to coordination failure. Large tower schemes combine structural complexity, façade performance, vertical transport systems, fire strategy integration and public-access elements, all of which require clearer evidence and stronger cross-disciplinary alignment than before. LCM’s BSR and Gateway guidance for London projects, provides broader context on how the capital’s high-rise market is adapting to this regime.
Evidence-Based Summary
The biggest skyscrapers under construction in London right now are not defined only by height but by what they reveal about the capital’s current construction cycle. The strongest activity remains concentrated in the City of London, where towers such as 1 Undershaft, 55 Bishopsgate, 100 Leadenhall Street and 50 Fenchurch Street are shaping the next skyline generation through a combination of commercial ambition, sustainability focus and complex urban delivery conditions.
The biggest skyscrapers under construction in London right now are not defined only by height but by what they reveal about the capital’s current construction cycle. The strongest activity remains concentrated in the City of London, where towers such as 1 Undershaft, 55 Bishopsgate, 100 Leadenhall Street and 50 Fenchurch Street are shaping the next skyline generation through a combination of commercial ambition, sustainability focus and complex urban delivery conditions.
In practical terms, these projects show that London’s high-rise market remains active, but the new era of skyscraper construction is more risk-sensitive, more publicly accountable and more dependent on integrated design and delivery than the first wave of tower building that preceded it.
|
Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
