The City of London’s newest skyscraper has just confirmed its first commercial tenant
Times, they are a-changing: once, the Lloyd's Building was the City's tallest (and most recognisable) tower – now the Square Mile's skyline is rising faster than Donald Trump's legal bill.
The latest addition to the City's skyscraper family is the Scalpel, aka 52 Lime Street. Although it isn't due to be completed until December next year, it's just signed up its first tenant.
BPL Global, an insurance broker which specialises in emerging market risk, will take the 12th floor – a 12,089 sq ft space.
WRBC Development, the company behind the tower, added that 47,000 sq ft on the second, third and fourth floors were also under offer – while another 74,000 will be occupied by WR Berkley Corporation's London-based insurance operations.
The Scalpel (the pointy one, centre) will be part of the City's new skyscraper cluster (Source: thescalpelec3.co.uk)
“The signing of the first tenancy agreement for The Scalpel marks a significant milestone in the development process," said Andrew Reynolds, WRBC's managing director.
Meanwhile, we are still awaiting a planning decision on One Undershaft, the City's tallest skyscraper-to-be, which will be 300m taller than the Cheesegrater when it is built.
In July the City of London Corporation said it would make a decision on the 73-storey tower in the autumn, saying there were "still a number of detailed matters being discussed".