RLB set to swap Shard for new offices in Canary Wharf

Rider Levett Bucknall is the latest firm set to move into Canary Wharf with the consultant due to swap the Shard for the Docklands estate later this summer.

The firm has more than 400 staff in the capital, having been in Renzo Piano’s tower at London Bridge for the past three years.

But in July it will swap its space on the 11^th floor of the Shard for more room at 40 Bank Street which is currently occupied by Citibank.

Before relocating to the Shard, the firm was at the Heron Tower for a couple of years having been at Old Broad Street for a decade.

Sam Barnes, a partner in RLB’s London office, said: “RLB’s lease is coming to an end in the Shard and having explored several options that would offer RLB a longer lease term, high standards of amenities and ease of commute for colleagues based in London, as well as those travelling into London from across the UK and Europe, we have found offices in Canary Wharf.

“The new office will reflect the standard RLB look and feel, modern, professional, and designed to support collaboration, focus and hybrid working. It has more space, improved layouts and access to high-quality amenities that support how we work today.

“In the current climate, this move represents a responsible and value-for-money choice for the business, delivering better space and facilities while saving the business significant costs each year compared to alternative options.”

The Canary Wharf estate has undergone a revival in the past few tears, shrugging off fears that home working in the wake of covid had meant it was left with dozens of stranded assets.

Visa recently announced that it was moving its European headquarters from Paddington to One Canada Square by 2028 while Canary Wharf said last year was its best for office leasing in a decade.

Last week, Building revealed that proposals had recently been submitted to turn the top storeys of the HSBC tower in Canary Wharf into a hotel and leisure destination. The scheme is being drawn up by KPF.

And JP Morgan has also chosen the estate for a new European headquarters which is being drawn up by Foster & Partners. Consultants working on the scheme include G&T on costs and Arup on structures.