“London remains the beating heart of the UK’s economy,” says Mayor Sadiq Khan—and it’s clear the capital’s appetite for transformation hasn’t slowed. Over the last 15 years, London’s population has surged by 25%, and its economy has grown by more than 60%. Fuelled by investment from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, US tech giants, and European developers, the city’s major regeneration zones are becoming focal points for architectural ambition and urban renewal. From super-tall towers to cultural landmarks, these five projects are defining London’s built environment in 2025.
1. The Spire at Canary Wharf: Europe’s Tallest Residential Tower
Towering at 235 metres, The Spire is poised to become the tallest residential building in Western Europe. Located at the edge of Canary Wharf, this £800m project is being developed by Greenland Group, a major Chinese real estate investor, and is set to deliver over 750 high-end apartments, ground-floor retail, rooftop gardens, and wellness facilities.
Architectural design is by HoK, with support from Arney Fender Katsalidis and engineering by WSP. The building’s sculptural form and intricate façade cladding take cues from nautical themes, acknowledging its riverside setting. Sustainability is embedded into every level of the design, including greywater recycling, smart building management systems, and rooftop solar integration.
Construction is being managed by Multiplex, with MEP packages going to TClarke and interiors coordinated through a multi-phase fit-out tender due to be awarded in late 2025. The scheme marks a turning point for Canary Wharf, introducing a stronger residential identity into a historically commercial zone.
2. Euston Station Redevelopment: HS2’s Urban Anchor
The Euston Station Overhaul is one of the most complex transport-related developments currently underway in Europe. While HS2’s wider future has faced delays and political uncertainty, the London terminus is progressing—with transformative implications for the surrounding area.
The £2.6bn redevelopment is led by Lendlease in partnership with Network Rail and HS2 Ltd, creating a 60-acre mixed-use district above and around the new station. The masterplan, designed by Grimshaw, Arup, and Weston Williamson + Partners, combines futureproofed transport capacity with commercial, residential, and civic architecture.
The station’s design features a modular roof, expansive concourses, and integrated retail arcades. Above ground, a new commercial district is being planned with flexible workspace, hotels, and green rooftops. Mace Dragados is delivering key packages, with early fit-out work already awarded to ISG and Overbury for adjacent office schemes.
As the project progresses, the long-derelict hinterlands behind Euston are set to be reconnected to Somers Town and the Knowledge Quarter, dramatically reshaping this part of Central London.
3. Barking Riverside: London’s Eastern Growth Engine
Once a power station and landfill site, Barking Riverside is now the epicentre of one of Europe’s largest brownfield regeneration schemes. Jointly delivered by Barking Riverside Limited—a partnership between L&Q and the Mayor of London—the project will eventually deliver over 10,000 homes, schools, healthcare hubs, and 65,000 square metres of commercial space.
The masterplan, led by Patel Taylor, is underpinned by a strong sustainability agenda and a people-first design philosophy. The layout prioritises pedestrian streets, riverfront public realm, and local high streets over car traffic. Key infrastructure includes a newly opened Overground station, riverboat services to central London, and dedicated cycle routes.
A mix of architectural practices—Sheppard Robson, HTA Design, Metropolitan Workshop, and Lomax Studio—are shaping the various residential phases, ensuring a blend of typologies and urban character. Contractors including Galliford Try, Countryside Partnerships, and Wates are delivering phases on a rolling basis, with fit-out work increasingly moving to modern methods of construction.
Barking Riverside is being closely watched as a test case for long-term placemaking on the city’s edge, particularly with its emphasis on inclusive community infrastructure and environmental integration.
4. Museum of London Relocation: Culture Reimagined at Smithfield
The Museum of London’s relocation to Smithfield Market is transforming one of the city’s most historic and architecturally rich areas into a new cultural quarter. The £337m project, led by Stanton Williams and Asif Khan Architects, involves sensitively restoring the General Market buildings while inserting new underground galleries and public spaces beneath them.
Funded by the City of London Corporation, the Greater London Authority, and private donors, the museum is expected to draw over two million visitors annually when it reopens in 2026. The architectural approach emphasises adaptive reuse, daylighting, and layering of history, with key features including a suspended walkway through the former market and open-access archaeology labs visible from the street.
The construction is being delivered by Sir Robert McAlpine, with conservation expertise from Donald Insall Associates and specialist heritage fit-out firms such as Coniston Ltd and Cliveden Conservation. This project sits at the centre of the City’s long-term plan to diversify beyond finance and create a more accessible, culturally vibrant urban core.
5. Battersea Power Station Phase 3: Completing a Design Icon
As one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, the regeneration of Battersea Power Station has been a decade-long endeavour. Now, with Phase 3 nearing completion, the £9bn project is entering its final transformation into a fully fledged mixed-use community.
Phase 3, masterplanned by Gehry Partners and Foster + Partners, includes a new pedestrian high street (“Electric Boulevard”), two residential buildings with over 500 apartments, and a new Art’otel. The overarching development is led by Battersea Power Station Development Company, backed by a Malaysian consortium comprising SP Setia, Sime Darby, and the Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia.
Phase 1–2 delivered a new Apple London HQ, retail arcades, and the iconic Power Station reopening. Phase 3 adds a lifestyle-led district aimed at completing the site’s transformation into a self-contained urban quarter. Mace remains the main contractor, with high-spec interiors delivered by a rotating group of fit-out specialists including Multiplex Interiors and Gratte Brothers.
The development is connected to the city via the Northern Line extension, and the final phases will see a blend of hospitality, creative workspace, and riverfront leisure spaces.
