Construction of 20 Fenchurch Street, EC3, dubbed the 'Walkie Talkie,' officially started yesterday, Tuesday January 18, following the breaking of the ground by George Iacobescu CBE, Chief Executive Officer of Canary Wharf Group plc (CWG) and Robert Noel, Managing Director, London Portfolio, Land Securities Group plc.
20 Fenchurch Street, EC3 will bring grade-A office space to a supply constrained central London market of 2014 as more than 3 million ft² of leases are expected to expire or see breaks potentially exercised per annum during the next four years. The work to deliver the scheme is expected to support approximately 3,000 jobs throughout the construction process.
The joint venture between Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group plc was announced in October 2010. Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group have been appointed joint development managers and both are responsible for the leasing, with Land Securities taking the lead. Canary Wharf Contractors Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canary Wharf Group, has been appointed as Construction Manager, bringing its experience of developing over 15 million ft² of grade-A office space to its second project in the City of London.
George Iacobescu, Chief Executive Officer of CWG said: "We are delighted to be able to apply our extensive high rise experience to such an iconic development. We look forward to working alongside Land Securities on this exciting project, which will be yet another step forward for London's economy."
Robert Noel, Managing Director, London Portfolio, Land Securities, said: "In January 2010 we were the first property company to commit to starting major developments in London in this cycle, as we saw a supply constrained market evolving for prime office space between 2012 and 2014. In starting work on 20 Fenchurch Street with the Canary Wharf Group today, we begin an exciting journey that will bring together our complementary skills in development, leasing and construction to create a new landmark for London."
Source: Land Securities