New wave of 700 workers

By John Hill on July 5, 2007 12:00 AM

FINANCIAL group Fitch Ratings is to set up its new London base in Canary Wharf in a #290million deal.
The company, a subsidiary of French business support group Fimalac, will move into 30 North Colonnade in three years time after agreeing to buy the building last week.
The office, which is being designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, will be completed by the end of 2010.

Fimilac chairman Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere said: "Canary Wharf is the ideal location in the UK for the head office of Fimalac and its subsidiary Fitch.
"Progressive relocation to Canary Wharf will allow all the Fitch Group teams to be more efficiently based in one building in a prime business location appropriate for future development in London."
Fitch employs about 700 staff in buildings around the city and their arrival will boost the number of Wharf workers to nearly 100,000.
The proposed building is next to KPMG's headquarters at 15 Canada Square, which is due to be completed at the end of 2009.
Fitch will not be occupying all of the 320,000sq ft of office accommodation at 30 North Colonnade, and it is understood KPMG has an option on space in the building.
Interior design will be supervised by French firm LLB Architecture and will feature a double-height entrance hall. The building will be clad in high-efficiency, solar-control glass and stainless steel and will have a rooftop winter garden.
Richard Archer, head of leasing at Canary Wharf Group, said: "We are delighted to welcome Fimalac and its subsidiary Fitch to Canary Wharf.
"This transaction further recognises and reinforces the importance of Canary Wharf as a key business district in London and illustrates the increasing attraction of this location to a wide variety of blue-chip occupants."
--------