Google's King's Cross headquarters plans given green light

Developer Argent submitted a reserved matters planning application to the Council in June. The scheme will include the construction of a new building which will range from seven to 11 storeys in height and comprise 725,000 sq ft of office space as well as 50,000 sq ft of shops at ground floor level.

The site is located immediately to the north of the new concourse at King’s Cross station and sits to the east of King’s Boulevard and south of the Regent’s Canal.

The Council's planning officers said in the committee report (54-page / 2.44MB PDF) that, although the proposed building was "unashamedly modern", it related well to the surrounding heritage townscape.

"It displays a structural honesty reminiscent of the grand station buildings. It also adds many features of interest with elements such as its northern palazzo or southern lantern café that can be appreciated as objects in their own right whilst being part of a greater whole," the report said.

The report concluded that the scheme would make a "strong positive contribution" to the ongoing regeneration of the Kings Cross Area.

The scheme is expected to create 1,500 construction jobs and, once completed, around 4,500 Google employees will be working in the building. Google is relocating staff from a number of sites in London including current offices at Victoria and Holborn.

Work on the site is expected to start early next year and to complete in late 2016.