Demolition Begins On Heron Tower Site

On Monday the 22nd of July 2002 after a long public inquiry and much arguing between those for and against tall buildings in London, then deputy Prime Minster John Prescott decided to approve Heron's planned tower at 110 Bishopsgate.

Almost five years to the day on, the eagle-eyed in London will have spotted a new construction crane going up on the skyline. Coloured red and very visible from the exit of Liverpool Street Station onto Bishopsgate, this crane marks the latest step in a long running saga that is finally seeing some action on the ground.

Unfortunately the crane isn't for construction yet as the buildings on the current site, Kempson House and Bishops House, have to be demolished first which is a sizable job.

Scaffolding is already creeping over the taller of the two, Kempson House, in preparation for what observers call the "white shroud of death", a covering by the demolition contractor as they dismantle the structure that is becoming increasingly familiar around the City of London.

As reported previously on Skyscrapernews, the job of demolition and laying the foundations by contractor Skanska are expected to take approximately 16 months meaning that it will be around the end of 2008 before the superstructure of Heron Tower and its shorter partner start to rise above the ground.

Once built in 2012 the taller of the two will stand 202 metres tall with a 40 metre spire on top and have 63,000 square metres of space over 46 floors. Counting the spire it will be the tallest building in the City of London beating British Land's Leadenhall Building by almost 18 metres.