Nike is in talks to move its UK headquarters to Argent’s 67-acre King’s Cross Central, N1, in the latest blue-chip seal of approval for the scheme.
The sportswear brand is thought to be close to signing for 60,000 sq ft of office space at the development’s S1, Handyside plot – a prelet that will enable it to consolidate its headquarters buildings from Soho and Fitrovia.
The deal has yet to be signed, but it would provide some early certainty to the development of the 175,000 sq ft building, which has floorplates of 20,400 sq ft over 11 floors and will be submitted for detailed planning permission next month.
Nike would be the latest blue chip occupier to find a home at King’s Cross, with Google, Universal Music and LVMH all having signed up for offices at the scheme. King’s Cross Central is owned by development manager Argent and AustralianSuper. Quoting rents have hit £75-£80 per sq ft.
The King’s Cross Central scheme still has 800,000 sq ft of office space available for prelets.
S1 Handyside Street, designed by Mossessian Architecture, is due for completion 2019.
Nike instructed CBRE earlier this year to find it a new London base following its 2020 lease expiry at its existing Soho HQ at Columbia Threadneedle’s Film House, 142 Wardour Street, W1, where it occupies 35,000 sq ft.
It is understood the new HQ would bring together the Nike office with staff at Converse Europe, the canvas shoe brand owned by the firm, which occupies 15,000 sq ft at Derwent London’s Charlotte Buildings, W1, on a lease that also expires in 2020.
Savills and Cushman & Wakefield act for King’s Cross Central Partnership; CBRE advises Nike.
