City skyscraper the Trellis tower ‘could be made in Britain’

The City’s tallest tower — known as the Trellis — could be “made in Britain”, the skyscraper’s architect said today.

The 73-storey scheme, formally known as 1 Undershaft, was granted planning permission by the City of London Corporation this week and will be built in six years.

The 304.9-metre tower is backed by Singaporean developer Aroland Holdings but the materials could be mainly UK-sourced, designer Eric Parry told the Standard.

“Most of it can be put together in the UK. Many of the buildings rely on European expertise in cladding and I think this one could be handled much closer to home,” Parry added.

He said the huge weathered steel braces that give the Trellis its distinctive appearance and nickname could be made in the North of England, in a boost to Britain’s beleaguered steel industry. The vitreous enamel to be used — giving the building a white sheen —could be manufactured in the Isle of Wight.