Architect seeks to top Canary Wharf

At 800ft, Canary Wharf currently tops the skyscraper stakes

London could be home to the tallest skyscraper in Europe if ambitious plans for a new landmark building are given the green light.

The designs, unveiled on Thursday, are for an 80-storey block which would soar 1,280 feet (390 metres) above the south bank of the Thames.

Up in the clouds: How the building would shape up

Created by architect Renzo Piano, the £750m environmentally-friendly building would feature mini-gardens on every level and public piazzas on some of the highest levels.

Developers are to consult local groups and businesses before applying for planning approval to Southwark council.

'Vertical town'

The building, called London Bridge Tower, would provide up to 8,000 jobs for the area.

Luxury apartments and a hotel would also take up about one-fifth of the one million square feet of space on offer.

The skyscraper could also use London Bridge's position as a major transport hub for the Underground, trains and buses.

Renzo Piano has designs on the London skyline

Mr Piano said: "I see the tower like a vertical little town for about 10,000 people to work in and enjoy and for hundreds of thousands more to commute to and from."

Building could start in spring 2002 with completion by the end of 2005.

At present the capital's tallest building is Canary Wharf tower which stands 800ft high and dominates London's otherwise flat eastern skyline.

But the Docklands landmark would be dwarfed by the proposed 80-storey building.