Shard of Glass Breaking Ground Soon

Very impressive visualization:
http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/

If it really is that reflective, won't it be a hazard to aircraft?!

Pilots will just put on their Aviator shades as they approach.

Newcastle Guy wrote:

St. Paul's is barely visible from most places (because of GROUNDSCRAPERS btw, not towers), and this will one again provide a stunning focal point for the skyline. I know certain people so want St. Paul's to be the centre of the skyline again, but it ain't gonna happen. It's awash in a sea of ugly, lowrise crap

Its surprising how visible St Paul's is.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2581453558_506d568037.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2562157506_61f544593c.jpg?v=0
The shard wont appear in ether of these pictures I took, but some of the other planed building would.

they were a bit small, here is a biger one

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2581453558_506d568037_b.jpg

Has anyone seen or heard any more on the final go ahead? Wasn't it due to be finalised this month? I found the following in Building magazine but not definitive decision:

10 October: Funders for the Shard will hold a meeting within the next week to finalise the scheme's budget, according to project sources.

17 October: Mace's price for building Shard rises by about �85m, but goes on to say "The impression we're getting is that there's no way it will not go ahead, but they're just waiting for a green light on the price.”

If, for any reason, it doesn't go ahead, does anyone know whether London Bridge Station will still be redeveloped? Is that a separate project and budget? As WHSmith has now also closed, the place is really running down and getting more desperate for refurbishment so I hope that goes ahead at the very least.

from what ive been reading the shard, the "pinnacle" and the heron tower are all on track and definate. the oil guys from qatar have a lot of spare cash on their hands and need to invest it somewhere. makes more sense in bricks and mortar than in a bank these days!

boroughpaul wrote:

... heron tower are all on track and definate.

Indeed, construction is underway now, and steelwork has begun rising above street level.

The official website is very nice: http://www.herontower.com/

Micky Salt will be pleased ;-)

I have to say the Herron Tower is the worst.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2581453558_506d568037_b.jpg

Not very impressed by the Heron Tower, tbh.

Is London Bridge Station a separate project from the Shard though, and if so, are they both definite?