Walkie Scorchie gets a sunscreen after melting Jaguar and burning carpet

Developers of the “Walkie Scorchie” have begun erecting a screen to block the skyscraper’s reflective surface after it reportedly melted parts of a Jaguar, cracked tiles and burnt a carpet.

The move follows complaints from business owners in the vicinity who have reported damage apparently caused by reflections of the half-finished 37-storey skyscraper’s at 20 Fenchurch Street.

Ali Akay, owner of Re-Style Barbers, whose carpet caught fire this week, told the City A.M. yesterday:  

“It’s not my problem – even the wood [of the door] is burning and all our product is melting. It’s not safe,” added.

In a joint statement, Land Securities and Canary Wharf said:

“Following approval from the City of London, we will be erecting a temporary scaffold screen at street level on Eastcheap within the next 24 hours.

“This solution should minimise the impact on the local area over the next two to three weeks, after which time the phenomenon is expected to have disappeared. The three parking bays will also remain suspended. We are also continuing to evaluate longer-term solutions to ensure this issue does not recur in future.

“We have liaised extensively with local businesses to keep them informed throughout. We have decided on this course of action with their input and agreement.”

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