Sellar Property Group unveils plan for 27-storey building, including 150 apartments, retail space and roof garden

The Shard's architect, Renzo Piano, will design the new residential tower. Photograph: David Taylor/REX

The Shard is to be joined by a new residential tower, south of the river Thames in London.

Announced on Tuesday less than a year after the 306m glass skyscraper opened, the new 27-storey building is to be designed by the Shard's architect, Renzo Piano.

The development by Sellar Property Group in partnership with Qatar includes 150 apartments, retail space and a roof garden.

Despite London's booming property market, the 10 apartments in the Shard are still for sale, with a rumoured price of £50m each. Office space inside the Shard has also not yet been fully let, but News UK, publishers of the Times and the Sun, recently signed an agreement to move into the 17-storey "baby Shard" already built next door, called The Place.

Sellar said it would redevelop Fielden House, a 1970s office building on London Bridge Street and include 160,000 sq ft (14,900 sq m) of space.

"It is intended that this new building will 'float' some 14m above the enlarged public realm space on London Bridge Street, opening up new access routes between the two levels, and providing views down to Guy's hospital, Kings College Campus and the proposed Science Gallery for the first time.

"A new generous staircase and a multi-level retail space will link the two levels, creating a new through route from the public Plaza and bus station above, to St Thomas Street below, significantly improving pedestrian circulation and quality of the public realm," Sellar said.

> via The Guardian