The Shard was designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop and is now under construction. Completion will be in 2012. Nick Bridges gave evidence at the public inquiry in 2003, whose inspector recommended approval of The Shard to the Secretary of State. The scope of work included extensive research into the history of the site and area, to allow appraisal of the statutory and local views potentially affected, as well as listed buildings, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites. The proposals were assessed for revised and updated Townscape anda Visual Assessments within the Environmental Statement.