Another skyscraper could soon join the cluster of office tower blocks dominating the Canary Wharf business district which would be among the tallest in London.

Approval “in principal” has been given for the Heron Quays tower that could rise to 50 storeys.

The application by Canary Wharf Group was agreed by Tower Hamlets council last night—but its vast scale means it still needs final approval from the Mayor of London. The application is now being sent to City Hall.

A previous application was made in 2007 which has had to be modified because of the financial crisis that hit the economy the following year. It no longer includes trading floors with their limited demand that would have been used by banks, following the downturn in the economy that led to wholesale job losses in the financial services industry.

The 620ft-high structure would be the seventh-tallest in London, dwarfed by just six others such as the Shard at Southwark and Canary Wharf Tower itself. It has 1.4 million sq ft of offices and nearly 2,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.

The principal of a tall building is considered acceptable in this location within an established ‘tall building cluster’, says the council’s planning report.

The proposed layout of the site is “acceptable and in keeping with adjacent sites” with public access allowing views of South Dock and no significant impact on the Greenwich World Heritage site the other side of the Thames, it concludes.

Outline planning has been agreed which includes demolishing existing buildings occupied by Skillsmatch, George Burwell business centre and East London Business Place, which will all be relocated.