New London skyscrapers set to break record in 2019

The number of skyscrapers being completed in the capital is set to smash records this year, with demand for housing space driving a surge in new towers joining London’s skyline.

Construction on 76 tall buildings is expected to be finished during the course of 2019, marking a three-fold increase on the previous year.

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The data, produced for an annual survey released today by New London Architecture (NLA), has found that two-thirds of London boroughs now contain buildings of over 20 floors that are currently under construction.

NLA chairman Peter Murray said the figures underline 2019’s status as the "year of the tall building".

Murray said: "Tall buildings are becoming increasingly accepted as a necessary form of urban development, not just in commercial centres like the City or Canary Wharf, but to provide much needed new homes right across the capital."

The report also shows that London had 541 towers in the pipeline during 2018, rising six per cent from 2017 (510).

Roughly 90 per cent of all tall buildings proposed are for substantially residential use, with towers under construction expected to deliver 110,000 new homes for London.

While completions this year are predominantly residential, Canada skyscrapers such as 22 Bishopsgate – known as Twentytwo – also have a target to finish this year.

"The projected completion of 76 tall buildings during 2019 is quite staggering compared to previous years' completions being less than 30 per annum," said Stuart Baillie, head of planning in London and the South East for GL Hearn.

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Baillie added: "This year’s survey demonstrates that there is continued appetite for tall buildings in London. East London continues to be a focus and outer London is seeing a growing share of the pipeline albeit focused on seven outer London boroughs."