Construction of the Walkie Talkie Skyscraper in EC3 Speeds Up!

20 Fenchurch Street, dubbed the Walkie Talkie Tower, has seen a big step forward in construction this week, as the first of the 45,000 steel sections which will make up the skyscraper’s base were installed.

Many of those working on the construction of the Walkie Talkie are reported to be local people learning the trade as they go, so it’s great news to hear the development has speeded up.

The completion date is still scheduled for 2014, and promises to provide 14,000sqft of retail space and 675,000sqft of office space in EC3. Once complete, the 37-storey skyscraper will be in eyeshot of The Shard in Central London which is nearing it’s completion.

Earlier this month, Canary Wharf Group and Land Securities revealed they were in talks with insurance company Markel, in the hope of securing the first lettings of office space within 20 Fenchurch Street. Markel is one of six potential occupiers, along with Royal & Sun Alliance who are thought to require up to 130,000sqft of office space within the Walkie Talkie.

Colette O'Shea, head of development for Land Securities' London portfolio told press that these developments were “central to the City of London's appeal as one of the world's great business hubs”.

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