CIT has submitted plans to the City of London for a 12-storey extension to a 16-storey office building, Finsbury Tower, on Bunhill Row, EC1, close to Old Street roundabout in Tech City.
The private equity investor recently completed a similar scheme, the South Bank Tower, SE1, where it added 11 floors on top of a 30-storey tower.
The project engineer of that scheme said it was the first time such an extension had been attempted.
When complete, Finsbury Tower will rise from 16 storeys and 79m in height to 28 storeys and 124m. The 361,000 sq ft extension will also create 136,562 sq ft of additional office space. Included within that total will be 10,000 sq ft of affordable workspace designed for small- and medium-sized businesses. This space is to be handed to the council as head lessee and will be offered at a peppercorn rate in perpetuity.
The new scheme will offer more than 500 cycle parking spaces and be car-free, losing the 85 spaces it now offers.
Twenty-five social rent homes are also planned in a six-storey standalone building as well as 14,300 sq ft of retail space.
The architect is Horden Cherry Lee: the planning adviser is DP9.
