Internet Giant Claims New King’s Cross Site ‘Isn’t Ambitious Enough’

Google have announced they will be holding off on relocating their UK operations to the £650m, purpose built King’s Cross campus because plans were “not sufficiently ambitious”.

Plans for the new King’s Cross “groundscrapper”

The redevelopment of the vast area behind King’s Cross Station has seen N1 become a beacon for London’s growing ‘Tech City’ cluster. Google completed the purchase of the North London location in January 2013, but work on the site began back in 2007.

Google claimed that there was “nothing wrong” with the original designs, but that more could be done to ensure the campus is “good for Google and good for the UK”. The existing plans included provision for a running track and natural-water swimming pool on the roof.

Shoreditch Office Space recently attended a Tech City property meeting where some of the preliminary designs for Google’s UK HQ were presented, and it was clear a huge effort had been made to design a space that reflected the Google brand.

Google’s Dublin work space

Existing designs were approved earlier this year by Camden Borough Council, but it now seems plans to relocate will be put on hold until 2017 at the earliest. This will inevitably have a knock-on effect at Google’s two existing UK sites, in Victoria and St Giles High Street, with staff likely to stay put until decisions are made.

Google has been keen to highlight that no new architects will be brought on to the project and that the driving force behind the delay has been to create an even better environment for employees and the local community. Redevelopment in King’s Cross has seen a complete reimagining of the previously under-used area, with a number of occupiers already enjoying the location – including a staggering 8 acres of public spaces and communal squares.

Shoreditch Office Space work closely with a range of Tech City occupiers to help find work space in and around East London. For more information on the services we provide to our clients, please contact sean@shoreditchofficespace.com