Google commits to building a £600m London HQ hailed as 'major vote of confidence' for Brexit Britain
Internet giant Google has announced it’s going ahead with its plan to build a London HQ in King’s Cross, in a move seen as a major "vote of confidence" for UK's technology sector in the wake of Britain's Brexit vote.
The project, which involves building a vast headquarters next to Google’s existing base in King’s Cross, central London, was thrown into doubt by the EU referendum and disagreement about its design. Google currently employs around 4,000 people in the UK, a figure that could now nearly double to 7,000.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond welcomed the news as "big vote of confidence" in Britain. He said: "This is a big vote of confidence in Britain’s leading position as a global tech-hub and more evidence that leading firms are choosing to invest here. Our technology industry is central to securing future economic growth and this government is committed to ensuring it continues to thrive. It’s further proof that Britain is open for business and that we continue to be an outward looking, world-leading nation."
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, made similar comments, he said: "This is a vote of confidence in our great city – creating high-skilled jobs, supporting growth and demonstrating that London is open to business, new investment and talent from around the globe."
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Pichai the chief executive of Google said: "The innovation we see here, the talent we have available here and now on the cutting edge of technology we are able to be here makes it an incredible place for us to invest."The BBC together with development experts estimated the new building and the increase in the number of staff could see the new UK investment cost more than £1bn.
