Focus On: Office Space for Rent in London, King’s Cross
As Google’s new London HQ gets the go ahead, we take a look at the past, present and future for King’s Cross as a business destination and the area’s office space for rent in London.
A brief history of King’s Cross
Today, King’s Cross is a thriving area within the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington, known as a key transport hub thanks to the presence of both King’s Cross and St Pancras stations.
Following the birth of the railway during the nineteenth century, King’s Cross became a huge distribution hub for transporting goods of all types. However, fast-forward over a century, and by the mid-1990s the area had been identified as a target for regeneration.
Since then, the area has benefited from significant investment and development, and is almost unrecognisable as the King’s Cross of twenty years ago. Developments like the opening of St Pancras International in particular have attracted new interest and investment in the area. In turn, this new investment has made Kings Cross an area where office space for rent is in high demand.
The story doesn’t end there though. Today, under the aegis of the King’s Cross Opportunity Area it is still undergoing significant regeneration.
What’s going on?
King’s Cross is a hive of activity right now – mostly of the construction type. The big news is the green light for Google’s ambitious new London HQ, which can now go ahead right at the heart of King’s Cross.
But the tech giant’s premises are actually part of much larger plans to redevelop the area. These include the speculative office developments at One and Two St Pancras Square which will create 200,000 sq ft of office space for rent in Londo and a further 350,000 sq ft office building in front of St Pancras International which is currently under construction.
Who’s here?
King’s Cross is currently home to a broad mix of global organisations. Guardian News & Media is on King’s Place, while publishing house Macmillan is located on Crinian Street. A number of consultancies, including Grant Thornton and E C Harris are also based in the area.
However, it’s the area’s future residents which are attracting all the attention right now.
King’s Cross office space for rent in London
Right now, office space for rent in London, King’s Cross spans everything from the large scale buildings currently in planning or construction, to a selection of smaller offices suitable for SMEs. In other words, the area can cater for a broad range of types and sizes of business.
Companies looking for flexible office space for rent in London will enjoy a range of options in Kings Cross. Spaces found here include Design-led offices like these to this cosy creative space, ideal for smaller businesses.
Businesses looking for larger space will benefit from options within refurbished industrial buildings and larger period properties. This business centre on Gray’s Inn Road or this centre on Wharfdale Road are great examples.
What’s next for King’s Cross?
Lots of office space. In total, 3.4m sq ft of office space for rent in London is to be created in the area over the next few years. This, combined with the presence of high profile residents such as Google, is expected to bring a wealth of new businesses to the area.
From 2014, Camden Borough Council and BNP Paribas are expected to move into space on St Pancras Square, while Google’s new offices are expected to open in 2016. Between now and then, eager eyes will be keeping a watch on everything that goes on in this key business destination.
Looking for office space for rent in London? Explore more offices in King’s Cross here.
Image by [Duncan] via Flickr.