Lloyd’s tight-lipped on relocation rumours

Lloyd’s of London has declined to comment on speculation that it is on the verge of quitting its iconic headquarters and moving into a new Leadenhall Triangle scheme.

According to newspaper reports, the 400-year-old insurance market is considering moving from its Richard Rogers-designed building to the nearby £400 million so-called Gotham City project by developer Henderson.

The newspaper claims Lloyd’s has break clauses on its lease in 2021 and 2026. The office was acquired by Chinese insurer Ping An last year for £260 million.

The speculation has been partly fuelled by comments made by former Lloyd’s chief executive Richard Ward last year in which he criticised the functionality of the building and its maintenance costs.

Rogers has subsequently written to the newspaper, the Sunday Times, defending the building and denying that Lloyd’s is considering a move.