The incremental change over the last number of months has slowly changed the skyline in this part of London. When completed, it will be the tallest building in Europe – even surpassing One Canada Square at Canary Wharf.
For a large city, London doesn’t have very many skyscrapers. This is due to restrictions on building heights originally imposed by the London Building Act of 1894.
Even though height restrictions have long since been eased, strict regulations remain to preserve protected views, particularly those of St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Palace, as well as to comply with the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority.
The lifting of the restrictions has allowed for taller buildings, including Centre Point and One Canada Square, which is the centrepiece of Canary Wharf. The Shard is the latest building to cut through the skyline.
The impacts of the changes in regulations are being felt, and it will be interesting to see how the London skyline changes over the coming years, and in the long term future. It seems to me that architects and builders are using big to mean bold. Whether this is a good thing or not is up for debate.
However, what I wonder is whether London will become another large city with glass skyscrapers or will it retain its individuality in whatever is built.