Apple to build a mega UK headquarters for 3,000 people in London

28 Sep 2016

The ‘Cathedral of Power’ at Battersea Power Station where Apple will create a new campus for up to 3,000 people. Image: Battersea Power Station

Apple’s European HQ will remain in Cork but the new London HQ will be the company’s largest building outside California.

Apple is planning to move 1,400 staff in the UK to a sparkly new headquarters at London’s Battersea Power Station, which will open in 2021.

It is understood that the California-headquartered tech giant is planning to move all 1,400 staff from eight locations around the UK to a new Apple campus located within the Battersea Power Station development.

As well as eight different offices, Apple maintains five Apple Store outlets around London.

The new offices will have space to accommodate up to 3,000 people.

‘Cathedral of Power’

Apple’s European headquarters will remain in Cork, Ireland, where the company is shooting towards an employment goal of 6,000 people in the next year.

It also emerged this week that Apple was shifting its European iTunes headquarters from Luxembourg to Cork.

Apple is also currently building a massive €850m green data centre in Athenry, Co Galway.

The move to build a new UK headquarters signals a consolidation of its strength in the UK, despite the Brexit vote by British citizens to leave the EU.

Apple and the Irish Government are currently embroiled in a major legal dispute with the European Commission over a €13bn tax ruling.

The former electricity generation site at Battersea, which has stood derelict for decades, is being redeveloped as part of a £9bn project.

It is understood that Apple is to occupy at least six floors of offices at the development beside the Thames river.

“It has always been our clear objective to create one of London’s most thriving new communities, and this commitment from Apple will undoubtedly help us achieve this goal,” Apple said in a statement.

The Battersea Power Station was built in the 1930s but stopped generating electricity in 1983.

The iconic building, with four chimneys featured is known as the “Cathedral of Power”, featured on the cover of the Pink Floyd album Animals and also featured in the film Help by The Beatles.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com