Tall & Urban News

Unilever has announced its plans to move offices across London and Surrey into a new headquarters in Kingston.

The consumer goods giant, which owns Persil, Dove, Magnum and Marmite, confirmed it will move to the site on Surrey House Island in 2023/24 if the plans for the controversial new Eden Campus development are approved. 

The plans, submitted by Cube Real Estate, include two-interlinked office buildings, car parking designed for electric vehicles, and a new 22-story residential building next to the restored historic Hogsmill River.

Currently, 156 new homes are being proposed for the residential tower, of which 35 percent will be affordable.

The move would bring together around 2,000 employees from five existing sites in London and Surrey into two office buildings.

Sebastian Munden, executive vice president of Unilever UK & Ireland, said the move "represents a rare opportunity to bring together teams in a highly sustainable, accessible and inspiring office designed for future ways of working, which will be a hive of collaboration for our employees, and for retailers, suppliers, consumers and other organizations."

He added: “We have had a presence in Kingston for many years, but we are looking forward to being an even bigger part of the local community, and the diversity of skills that the town and surrounding areas have to offer.”

The scheme has also been welcomed by Kingston Council.

For more on this story, go to MyLondon.