Markel signs up as first Walkie-Talkie tenant

The Walkie-Talkie skyscraper in London has its first major tenant after Markel signed up yesterday.

The insurance firm is paying £65 per square foot for two floors of the 38-storey building, which should be completed by its developers Land Securities and Canary Wharf in 2014.

Drivers Jonas Deloitte's lettings partner Mark Lethbridge said: "This level of rent reflects the fact that it's a top-quality building in the heart of the insurance sector, which is one of the most buoyant in an otherwise subdued City office market."

Other insurers including Kiln have also been linked with the Walkie-Talkie.

The insurance sector has been behind much of the recent major letting activity in the London market, with Aon signing up to take a third of British Land's Cheesegrater building.