Shard starts tenant hunt
SELLAR Property, the developer of the Shard skyscraper, yesterday appointed four leasing agents to find tenants for the tower and office block near London Bridge.
Jones Lang LaSalle and Knight Frank will act as joint sole agents for the 310m Shard tower, while CB Richard Ellis and Colliers International will advise on nearby London Bridge Place.
The Renzo Piano-designed tower is due for completion in the first quarter of 2013, but has already signed up and later bought out its first tenant to try and cash in on rising City rents.
Transport for London accepted a multi-million pound payment to surrender its contract for 200,000 square feet of office space in June, having agreed to pay £38.50 per square foot. The Shangri La hotel is currently the tower’s only agreed tenant.
Neil Prime, head of markets at Jones Lang LaSalle, said yesterday: “Given the current shortage of high calibre space being delivered we anticipate very strong demand from prospective occupiers – both from within the UK and internationally.”