Steel tower starts at Shell Centre site

Construction of Southbank Place, the new £1BN mixed-use property development on the globally-recognised Shell Centre site on London’s south bank, has begun.

The predominantly steel-framed Southbank Place is being developed by Braeburn Estates – a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

Parts of the original Shell Tower will remain the centrepiece of the site, framed by a cluster of seven complementary buildings for residential and business use, which will be constructed in phases from now until 2019.

The development will have a new public square, pedestrian routes and an underground station.

In addition to over 800 apartments in five of the buildings, two of the new buildings are being constructed for business use. Southbank Place will also be home to retail outlets, restaurants and cafés.

No steelwork contractor has so far been named for the project but steel erection on site is expected to begin in December.