City of London Shrugs Off Pandemic Blues With Planning Boost

Planning applications in the City of London were up by nearly a third during the pandemic compared with previous years, figures showed Tuesday, despite fears that demand for office space would plummet as more people worked from home.

The City of London Corporation said 56 major planning applications were submitted in the Square Mile in 2020, 2021 and 2022 — up from 42 in 2017, 2018 and 2019. New skyscrapers on Gracechurch Street and Fenchurch Street were granted consent in the last two years, it added.