Newspaper round-up: 31 August

A £200m skyscraper proposed for London’s South Bank has been granted planing permission despite opposition from heritage campaigners, according to the Financial Times. The 43-storey building on Doon Street will be built by Coin Street Community Builders, the firm that created the Oxo Tower and Gabriel’s Wharf nearby.

The Times has reported that office vacancy rates could double to 10% in the City next year, leaving acres of empty space in buildings that have already been constructed and delaying the start of several new skyscrapers.

The Financial Times has revealed that Mayor of London Ken Livingstone will today invite energy and utility management companies to bid for work making 100 of the capital’s public sector offices greemer. The aim will be to increase the buildings’ energy efficiency by 25%.