London’s skyline

The controversial 155 metre-high 'walkie talkie' skyscraper has been approved by the government despite the objections of their own advisers – English Heritage. The tower at 20 Fenchurch Street was designed by the fashionable New York-based architect Rafael Vinoly. English Heritage said it would be one of 'London’s ugliest and most oppressive buildings'









London’s skyline, which already boasts a 'gherkin' (right), is now set to get a 'walkie talkie' (centre), and a 'helter skelter' (left). There are also plans for a 'cheese grater', a 'blade' and a 'shard of glass'. Heritage groups are concerned that the rash of approvals for skyscrapers could ruin the city’s historic character.The 47-storey tower by the architect Richard Rogers has perhaps the best skyscraper nickname. The 'cheese grater' is set to join the London skyline after its developers British Land announced in May that they were going ahead with the scheme









The 36-storey building includes a publicly accessible 'sky garden' with views across London. Announcing planning approval, the communities secretary, Hazel Blears, said this week that it would not harm historic views of the Tower of London and would make a significant contribution to London’s architecture