Offices still the future signals Google, with £730m investment

Industry leader Google has offered a vote of confidence for offices with a titanic £730m investment in its London workspaces. As well as purchasing the Central Saint Giles site in which it is currently a tenant – part of one of the capital’s largest mixed-use developments – the tech giant has committed to a multi-million pound refurbishment that will bring the offices on par with its under-construction King’s Cross complex. The purchase, from Legal & General and Mitsubishi, is the largest ever recorded in the West End.

“We want to reinvigorate the work environment,” Google’s UK boss Ronan Harris told the BBC, noting that the company wants most of its workforce back in the office three days a week. Still, this represents something of a sea change when compared to the five-day, pre-pandemic norm, and Google’s new emphasis on collaboration spaces and hybrid conference rooms – where staff can attend meetings in-person or virtually – recognises a growing need for flexibility.

“We’re making this commitment to rebuild,” continued Harris. “We’re buying these buildings and we’re keen to see everybody come back in and see a vibrant workspace again.”