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Internet giant Google has secured a prime spot of land in the heart of London to build its new multimillion pound HQ. The American... Google To Develop £1bn UK Headquarters

Internet giant Google has secured a prime spot of land in the heart of London to build its new multimillion pound HQ.

The American multinational corporation struck a deal, thought to be worth as much as £1bn ($1.6 billion) when finished, with King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership.

Google’s new UK hub is just one part of the King’s Cross development, which will also feature 3.4 million sq ft of workspace, 26 acres of public space, 500,000 sq ft of retail, 10 new public squares, 20 streets and 2,000 new homes.

Google To Develop £1bn UK Headquarters

The Google deal is a major boost to the transformation of King’s Cross and is one of the biggest ever commercial acquisitions in the UK.

Relocation of London staff

The new headquarters will provide a state-of-the-art flexible working environment for Google staff and the move is targeted for 2016.

Employees from Google’s other offices in Victoria and Holborn will relocate to the new building, which will range in height from seven to 11 storeys.

Google’s vice president for Northern and Central Europe, Matt Brittin, said: “This is a big investment by Google. We’re committing further to the UK – where computing and the web were invented. It’s good news for Google, for London and for the UK.”

The new headquarters will face One and Two Pancras Square, two office buildings currently under construction by the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership, which will be available for occupation from the end of 2013 and mid 2014 respectively.

Sustainable design concept

Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) have developed ‘high quality, sustainable design concepts’ for the new Google headquarters, which will sit above retail units providing a diverse range of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Simon Allford from AHMM said: “Working with Google is a special opportunity to create an innovative new headquarters of scale and significance that both builds on the King’s Cross rich tradition of heroic construction, and contributes to the fulfilment of the development’s visionary master plan.”

Cash-rich Google has more than 70 offices in at least 40 countries around the globe and unlike most other offices, common internal features include yurts, video games, pool tables, pianos and fully stocked ‘micro-kitchens’.

Subject to reserved matters approval being received from Camden Council, construction will start on Google’s new UK headquarters later this year.

 

[Images via sociable & kingscross]