A planning application has been submitted by AXA IM Alts for a new biodiverse office building at 63 St Mary Axe in London.

The proposed development will comprise approximately 635,000 sq ft of space across 46 storeys located at the edge of the City of London’s Eastern Cluster. The plans include an extensive new park, a multi-function ground level auditorium and other public amenities.   

Rob Samuel, UK Head of Development at AXA IM Alts, said: “Our plans for 63 St. Mary Axe reflect AXA IM Alts’ close collaboration with local community stakeholders and our extensive track record of delivering forward-thinking, flagship office developments in London. Designed as a low carbon building for future generations, 63 St Mary Axe will help to address the significant shortage of high quality, modern, sustainable and amenity-rich workspaces, not just in the City but across central London as a whole.”

In addition to providing some of the most advanced new office space in London, Fletcher Priest Architects have designed a building with access to gardens and fresh air from every office floor, with over 100 new trees set to significantly increase site wide biodiversity.

The proposals include the unveiling of a currently buried section of London’s ancient Roman Wall, located within Camomile Park along the southwestern length of the site. This new public amenity connects the ground plane with a series of landscaped walkways and balconies above, occupying the equivalent of six storeys, while tracing the original trajectory of London Wall. The remaining churchyard of St. Augustine Papey will also be retained and celebrated as part of the park.  

At 176m high, 63 St. Mary Axe is the fifth flagship office development AXA IM Alts has advanced in the Square Mile since 2012, collectively totalling nearly 3m sq ft of commercial space.