Apple To Shift London HQ To Battersea Power Station: A Vote Of Confidence In The UK Economy

U.S. based technology giant Apple on Wednesday said it is shifting its London headquarters to the iconic Battersea Power Station, a landmark located in South West London at the centre of a $10 billion regeneration project. The decision has been hailed with enthusiasm by the British government, as a vote of confidence after the economical fallout of Brexit.

“@odwyerd: #NAMA sells Battersea for £495m; now worth £10Bn https://t.co/obq8SmJAx1”#NAMA good to some - At the expense of Irish people...

— Mick Wallace (@wallacemick) September 28, 2016

The Battersea power station, decommissioned in 1983, was previously a functioning coal-fired power station and stood derelict for about three decades on the south bank of the River Thames until the site was bought by a Malaysian consortium in 2012. Apple's HQ will be accommodated in the central boiler house of the power station, which has been a staple in the culture of Britain.

The station was featured on the cover of Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals, and the massive interior has been filmed in movies including The Dark Knight Rises and Children of Men. According to the Battersea Power Station Development Company, Apple will be the largest tenant and occupy around 500,000 square feet across six floors. This is the largest office letting deal in the West End in 20 years.

Apple's new £9 Billion HQ to be built at Battersea Power Station. https://t.co/B9Wy9KFkWj pic.twitter.com/dGOvyXiOgg — Huffington Post UK (@HuffPostUK) September 28, 2016

In a statement to the Standard, Apple said it will move to the new HQ in 2021, which includes the six floors inside the central Boiler House to accommodate 1,400 of its workforce. This will cover its central function staff currently based in other offices. This large space ensures that the company can comfortably hire or transfer more staff if needed.

British Finance minister Philip Hammond welcomed Apple's move after Britons voted to leave the European Union earlier on June 23. "It's a vote of confidence in the UK economy, and that Britain is an attractive investment destination for the global technology industry," he stated.

According to a report by The Verge, Apple's main European HQ however, will remain at Cork, Ireland. "It's a huge opportunity to have our complete team running and collaborating in one site, supporting the restoration of a neighbor-hood rich in history," an Apple spokeswoman said.