Google has taken more short-term space at as the target opening for its 1m sq ft HQ continues to be delayed.
The tech giant has agreed a lease of around 12 months for the 30,000 sq ft Stanley building, N1. It is taking the space from serviced office provider The Office Group, where tenants would likely pay up to £900 per desk monthly.
The space will be largely used by artificial intelligence business DeepMind Technologies, which was bought by Google for around £400m in January. DeepMind will relocate from smaller offices in Russell Square, WC1.
Sources said the deal was part of Google’s strategy to secure temporary accommodation at the 67-acre King’s Cross Central development after announcing last November that it was tearing up consented Allford Hall Monaghan Morris-designed plans.
Google was expected to move into the building in 2016, but revised proposals for the HQ are now not expected to be unveiled until at least next year.
In April, it signed a 15-year lease on 165,000 sq ft at 6 Pancras Square, the 400,000 sq ft block being developed by BNP Paribas Real Estate. Adjacent to Google’s proposed HQ, the space is to be used to house staff being moved out of its offices at and , both SW1, which have lease expiries in 2015 and 2016.
It has since attempted to sign more space at 6 Pancras Square.
CBRE and Instant Offices advised Google; The Office Group was unrepresented.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
