Square Mile’s tallest tower tempts computing giant from West End

Tata Consultancy Services is in talks to leave its West End base in favour of 22 Bishopsgate, EC2. The Indian tech giant is nearing a deal to lease around 50,000 sq ft at AXA IM Alts’ 62-storey City tower. It has been based at Northcliffe House in Kensington, W8, since 2016, where it leases 30,200 sq ft at a rent of about £46 per sq ft, according to EG Radius. The building is also home to media brands including the Daily Mail, the i newspaper and the Independent. Tata will be expected to pay significantly more for the space at 22 Bishopsgate, where rents have ranged from £65 per sq ft to £85 per sq ft, depending on the floor. A deal would be further evidence that companies are willing to pay a premium for high-quality, environmentally-friendly office space as they try to tempt employees back to the workplace following the pandemic-induced switch to homeworking. See also: AXA’s Isabelle Scemama on filling 22 Bishopsgate In the past year, 22 Bishopsgate has attracted tenants including US law firms Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and McDermott Will & Emery, insurer Fidelis, the Korean Development Bank and William Blair. And last month, it emerged that Apple would take another three floors, expanding its presence in the building for the second time in six months and taking its slice of the tower to 200,000 sq ft. In total, 22 Bishopsgate provides 1.2m sq ft of offices and more than 100,000 sq ft of amenity space. The BREEAM Excellent-rated building, which was developed by Lipton Rogers, includes a 20,000 sq ft food hub on the second floor, an innovation hub, a members’ club and a gym. It also offers storage for about 1,700 bikes, electric charging points and changing facilities, as well as the capital’s highest free public viewing gallery. JLL and CBRE are leasing agents at the site. JLL is also acting for Tata. All parties declined to comment. View the top five rents achieved on Bishopsgate >> See which agents are transacting the most space in the City >> To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@eg.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @EGPropertyNews