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Tech firms based along the United States' West Coast are moving into pretty big spaces in London over the next few years despite uncertainty over Brexit. Technology, media and telecommunications made up the most active demand last quarter throughout Central London, according to JLL. Here’s a look at some of the latest plans from tech firms moving in.
Google plans to build a 650k SF headquarters in London and could add upward of 3,000 jobs in the city by 2020 after its expansion. Google currently occupies 380k SF at 6 Pancras Square. It is expected to expand into a second building in 2018. Google will eventually occupy three buildings.
Snapchat
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Snapchat, which is moving toward an IPO, plans to open a large office in London. It has over 75 employees in Soho offices, but this new office would act as its European base. The tech firm plans to hire additional employees and engineers once the new office is completed.
Apple
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Apple signed a 500k SF lease last year, taking up about 40% of the new Battersea Power Station project. The company, which is building a new headquarters in Silicon Valley, will move into the new London headquarters in 2021. Apple will move 1,400 employees into six floors of the new development.
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Facebook will open its new London headquarters this year and plans to add another 500 jobs in the UK. It initially came to the UK in 2007 with only a few people, but will grow to a staff of 1,500 with its new London office. Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg (shown), signed a 15-year deal with Great Portland Estates for 227k SF and will occupy the entire One Rathbone Square office building.
Amazon
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Amazon is set to occupy 431k SF next year at Principal Place, a 621k SF, 15-storey office building on the outskirts of London. The online retail firm founded by Jeff Bezos (shown) previously occupied a space in Slough. Amazon’s UK business employs 1,700 people at its corporate office. The new Shoreditch space will provide capacity for upward of 5,000 employees. The building is owned by Brookfield Property Partners, which just sold 50% of its stake in the building to Enpam.
Expedia
Last summer, Expedia was in talks for upward of 400k SF within the 67-acre King’s Cross Central development, according to Bloomberg.
