London’s new ‘Justice Quarter’ plans get the green light

The City of London Corporation’s plans for a new development called the ‘Justice Quarter’, which will include an innovative 18-courtroom facility, new headquarters for the City of London Police and new east-west links through the site, as well as creating 400 new jobs, received the go-ahead in April.

The new quarter will be based on Salisbury Square and has been designed by Eric Parry Architects to last 125 years as part of the City of London Corporation’s actions to meet its net-zero target across the Square Mile by 2040. Alongside the creation of jobs, the new quarter will also attract visitors via its commercial development, which will include cafes, shops and bars, and improve sustainability to encourage growth in the Square Mile and beyond, while also maintaining the City of London’s reputation as the global hub for business, law and justice.

Catherine McGuinness, the City of London Corporation’s policy chair said: “As a lawyer myself, I know first-hand that the Square Mile is home to a unique cluster of legal expertise and services. Maintaining this position as a world-leading judicial centre is essential as we drive our economic recovery forward and build back better from the pandemic.

“The Salisbury Square development will create a new civic hub, housing a state-of-the-art court and a new City of London Police headquarters. This project will reinforce the Square Mile’s reputation as a place to do business by ensuring we are able to adapt to the changing demands placed on the justice system.

“It will also create new public spaces and have a transformative impact on Fleet Street, really enhancing one of the City’s most well-known thoroughfares and making it a more exciting place for people to explore.”