The City of London Corporation has approved a new urban greening office scheme at the 30 Minories site in the east of the city.

In plans put forward by PLP Architects, a new 14,000sqm mixed-use office building will replace the postwar office block, while retaining a Victorian warehouse building, known as ‘Writers House’, on the site.

The new Grade A office space will feature landscaped terraces ascending the external walls, each leading to a green roof, equipped with solar panels.

Developers have also pledged to enhance the local public realm, by transforming the car park at Sheppy Place into a new green public square.

Chainman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, says: “We are sustainably delivering, across the Square Mile: green and plugged into to the City’s history and culture, whilst providing public realm improvements for local residents and visitors.”

While ‘Writers House’ will be transformed into a new community hub inclusive of an archaeological and cultural centre at its ground floor.

As the hub’s development site encompasses an eastern Roman cemetery belonging to the Abbey of St Clare, a mediaeval religious foundation.

Artefacts of ‘appropriate’ nature will be displayed as part of a new free to access public exhibition.