Tech giant backs return to office working with plan to increase capacity for expanding UK staff
Google has bought the 11-storey Central Saint Giles development in central London which contains some of its UK offices for 拢730m ($1bn).
The tech giant, which already rents around 40% of the Renzo Piano-designed building near Oxford Street, has agreed a deal to buy the development from Legal & General Group and Mitsubishi Estate.
The 拢130bn-turnover company said the investment reflects its 鈥渃ontinued confidence in the office as a place for in-person collaboration and connection鈥�.
Google has also pledged a 鈥渕ulti-million pound refurbishment鈥� of the Central St Giles offices. This will include team pods, flexible new spaces that can be reconfigured in multiple ways and outdoor covered working areas.
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A new UK headquarters building for Google is currently under construction at Kings Cross. The 11-storey block, designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), will provide one million ft2 of office space, of which around two-thirds will be taken by Google.
The investment is part of a wider strategy to boost Google鈥檚 UK workforce capacity to 10,000 employees. The firm currently has 6,400 staff in the UK.
The chancellor of the exchequer has described the investment as a 鈥渂ig vote of confidence in the UK as a world-leading tech hub鈥�.
Business groups have warned that a return to the office is vital for economic recovery, especially in town and city centres.
Current government guidance is for people to work from home if they can, but this will be reviewed on 26 January.
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