Paris announces seven skyscrapers to boost post-Brexit business

Seven new skyscrapers by architects including French architect Jean Nouvel and British designer Norman Foster have been proposed for the La Défense district of Paris, as part of an attempt to woo businesses from post-Brexit London.

The family of skyscrapers was announced by French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron during a visit to London last week, as part of a new marketing campaign for Paris' La Défense district.

Macron said the towers would cater to bankers, academics and researchers who might be forced to decamp from London to the Paris business district following the UK's exit from the European Union.

The seven skyscrapers named Trinity, Alto, M2, Hekla, Sisters, Air 2 and Hermitage will be located in the business district – where 40 per cent of workers are said to be employed by overseas companies.

La Défense is marketing itself under the slogan "Tired of the Fog? Try the frogs!" in an attempt to lure companies concerned about the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

"Paris La Défense is a turnkey destination with a thriving economic ecosystem in the heart of Europe, offering a level of culture, quality of life and unbeatable dynamism: Essential factors to consider for relocation," said Marie-Célie Guillaume, director of the organisation Defacto that manages the district, of the campaign.

"This campaign unrolls the blue-white-red carpet to thousands of talents and professionals who are now looking for a new European headquarters."

"As regrettable as the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, we must be pragmatic and assert the strengths of our territory," added Defacto president Patrick Devedjian.

Several other skyscrapers are also planned for the district, including the 200-metre Les Jardins de l'Arche by Ateliers 2/3/4/.

Until recently, Parisian planning laws banned residential towers measuring more than 50 metres and office blocks over 180 metres. The laws were put in place following the controversy triggered by the construction of Tour Montparnasse, which was completed in 1973.

But La Défense is located just outside the city limits – where the limitation was not in place.