First tenants book space at the Square Mile’s latest skyscraper

THE developer behind the latest addition to the City of London skyline — the skyscraper known as the Scalpel — is close to signing up its first two occupiers, the Standard understands.

US insurer WR Berkley is behind the 192-metre tall Scalpel and is taking eight floors of the building, including the top two.

But industry sources said US insurer Axis Capital is set to sign up for three floors and broker Berry Palmer & Lyle is understood to be also taking a floor in the 38-storey tower.

One source said: “We’ve had Brexit but the simple fact of the matter is that there’s still a lot of demand and not enough space. This is a good sign that the market is still trading.”

The building is being constructed in the heart of the Square Mile’s insurance district on the corner of Lime Street and Leadenhall Street — a stone’s throw from the inside-out Lloyd’s of London headquarters and the Cheesegrater tower.

Agents Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are leasing the building, which is due for completion at the end of next yea