The developers of the Shard are close to signing up to six major office tenants to create a new “vertical city” for London with more than 8,000 workers.
The Standard has learned that two occupancy deals have been agreed with “another three or four” due to be completed by April. Irvine Sellar, chairman of developes Sellar Property, said that would mean that “well in excess” of 100,000 sq ft of office space in the 1,017ft tower — about a fifth of the total — is spoken for.
Mr Sellar’s claim came on the eve of the first official opening at the London Bridge skyscraper with the launch of the View from the Shard, the viewing platforms between the 68th and 72nd floors.
The former Carnaby Street trader said there would be “bums on seats in the offices before the end of the year”. He added: “I want a mix of tenants from vibrant sectors like media, legal, PR, technology that are all inter-related.
I want business to take place within a vertical city. I want people to meet to do deals, have meals at the restaurants, stay the night at the Shangri-La (the hotel opening in the Shard). You wouldn’t get that if the whole thing was just taken up by one huge firm of accountants.”
A deal for TfL to occupy almost half the office space was scrapped in 2010. Mr Sellar said it could take until the end of next year to fill all the space.
