British Land and Oxford Properties are in talks to lease a further 93,400 sq ft of office space at the Cheesegrater, EC3, despite an investigation into broken bolts at the building revealing further damage.
Brit Insurance is under offer to lease just over 51,000 sq ft on floors 15-17, while the building’s architect Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has confirmed its intention to lease the 17,705 sq ft 14th floor.
In total there are five floors under offer, meaning around 70% of the 610,000 sq ft building is now accounted for.
The developers announced the leasing progress as they revealed the results on an investigation into how two bolts broke on the 737 ft building at 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3 in November last year.
The investigation, carried out by contractor Laing O’Rourke and structural engineer Arup, found that a third steel bolt had recently fractured.
Tests concluded that the bolts had fractured due to a material failure mechanism called hydrogen embrittlement. This is a crack growth mechanism within the bolt material.
British Land said: “These [investigations] confirm that the problem is limited to certain bolts. Arup has also confirmed that there is no adverse effect on the structural integrity of the building. A programme to replace a number of bolts will take place as a precautionary measure.”
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
