Facebook has agreed to acquire more than 600,000 sq ft of office space across three buildings at King’s Cross.
The agrement between the social media giant and King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) is one of the most significant commercial deals in London’s recent history.
Facebook, which currently has UK offices in Rathbone Place and Brock Street, London, will occupy P2 on Lewis Cubitt Square and 11 and 21 Canal Reach.
The new offices are set to be open in 2021, but the number of new jobs the move will create is yet to be confirmed.
Rob Cookson, head of global real estate at Facebook, hailed the UK as being one of the best places in the world to be a technology company.
“Our base in London has grown from four people to become our biggest engineering hub outside of the US, and by the end of this year, 2,300 people will be working for Facebook in the UK,” he said.
“London is home to teams that build some of Facebook’s significant global products like Workplace, social VR applications for Oculus, and the tools that protect our community around the world.
“We chose King’s Cross because it has considerable expansion opportunities, great transportation access, and is part of a vibrant community.”
The deal comes just weeks after Samsung Electronics announced an agreement to open ‘Samsung KX LDN’, a 20,000 sq ft showcase space at Coal Drops Yard, the new Heatherwick Studio-designed shopping and lifestyle district in King’s Cross, in October.
Facebook will join the a host of tenants based at King’s Cross, including Google, Universal Music and media multinational Havas.
The announcement was hailed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan as “great news” for the capital.
“We welcome Facebook’s long-term commitment, which is further evidence that London is open for business and a world-leading destination for major tech companies,” he said.