For residents living inside the Barbican, being able to call one of the most iconic landmarks in London your home comes with a variety of perks.
There’s a range of amenities, including tranquil private gardens, tennis courts, on-site bars, and concierge services.
And the enviable central location means that the site’s 2,060 flats are just a stone’s throw from transport links, and all that London has to offer.
But the Barbican is not without its faults.
Recently, residents pulled back the curtain to reveal the reality of living in the Brutalist structure: ‘bleak’ windowless bathrooms, ageing kitchens, and no individual heating control.
And now, things might be about to get even more dicey, with homeowners allegedly furious about plans to build a new 20-storey office block across the road.
What is One Silk Street?
First brought to the table back in 2025, investors expressed interest to repurpose One Silk Street, a large office building located just a five minute walk from the residential area within the Barbican.
The building, built back in the 1980s, was once home to high-end law firm Linklaters.
Now, the plan is to demolish the space in order to make way for a new development. Linklaters employees are currently in the process of vacating the property after being relocated.
The new site, involving a part 16 storey and part 20 storey building, will include approximately 86,000 square metres of office space, alongside new cultural, retail and community spaces in the area.
The original proposal actually involved a building made up of two 20-storey towers. But after major criticism from residents, the design was scaled back with one of the blocks reduced to 16 storeys plus ground.
A new public plaza will be erected opposite the Barbican Centre entrance, alongside improved pedestrian connections between Moorgate and Liverpool Street to the Barbican.
It’s been described by developers as ‘an exceptional opportunity to reimagine and transform the site into something truly special for the local area and City.’
Why are Barbican residents opposed to the plan?
Residents living inside the Barbican have made it abundantly clear that they do not support the new build.
During the early consultation phase, developers put out a litmus test to try and gauge the local’s thoughts. Out of 1,850 responses, 1,000 residents objected to the proposed plans.
The biggest proponent objecting the new build has been the Barbican Quarter Action (BQA), a small pressure group representing the interests of residents and local businesses in the Barbican.
Among the recorded objections of One Silk Street are concerns such as ‘noise’, ‘traffic chaos’, ‘construction debris’, and ‘climate change’.
In particular, residents are concerned by how the new building could affect access to natural light, with the BQA describing the new block as ‘smothering’ the Barbican.
In her objection, one resident, Franca Cottafavi, shared that the ‘overall bulk’ of the towers will ’cause serious losses of daylight and sunlight to nearby homes — especially those facing Silk Street and around Cromwell Tower.’
This is already a concern for those who live in the building. Design writer Eleanor Cording-Booth recently shared her experience of living in the Barbican on her Substack, A Considered Space.
She pointed other that, in almost every flat in the Barbican, there is no window in the kitchen, which meant that it ‘was always dark and cupboard-like’, nor in the bathroom, meaning she didn’t have ‘any natural light’ and it was ‘infuriatingly prone to mould.’
However, despite these worries, on Thursday May 28, Members of the City of London Corporation Planning Application Sub-Committee officially green lit the plan.
In response, the BQA shared the following statement on Instagram: ‘Shamefully, the City approved the Silk Street plans — we think it’s the biggest detrimental impact on residential daylight and sunlight ever approved by the city.
‘We’re working through what next steps would be most effective and will be in touch on our mailing list soon.’
The Barbican Quarter Action are no strangers to putting up a fight.
Most recently, they attempted to block the City of London’s grant of planning permission to demolish parts of the Barbican Estate (specifically, Museum of London Rotunda and Bastion House), citing that the project would result in tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide being released.
The case, however, was ultimately dismissed.
MORE: London train line to get an extension with two new stations
MORE: London to get new £1,000,000,000 skyscraper with 360-degree panoramic views of the city
MORE: MAGA influencer who assaulted woman in London says she was ‘targeted’ over Trump ties
The Key
Sign up for must-read property stories, DIY hacks and tips for buying a home.
