Developers go higher as London land values rise

The London Assembly has raised concerns about the increasing height of buildings in the capital. Developers have said they are compelled to construct taller structures to ensure profitability, with Stuart Baillie from Knight Frank explaining: "the land value itself to acquire the sites . . . pushes the height up." Despite this trend, the number of buildings over 20 storeys has declined, with only 18 completed in 2023, down from 44 in 2019. The committee has urged Mayor Sadiq Khan to assess the relationship between land values and tall buildings in the next London Plan, emphasising the need for clear design standards. Andrew Boff, the committee's chairman, noted: "There is a lack of understanding of what a successful tall building is." 

The Standard (06/05/2025)