New pictures of £1bn Google HQ bringing retail parade, community space and rooftop running trail to King’s Cross

Londoners are set to benefit from the ambitious office plans, with completion set for 2024.
The one million sq ft building stretches 300m alongside railway lines south of the Regent’s Canal
Handout

Updated plans submitted by Google for its £1 billion “groundscraper” headquarter building in Kings Cross show that it will have 250 metres of shop fronts and a community events space.

Construction of the huge one million sq ft building — designed by Thomas Heatherwick and Danish architects BIG — is now well advanced ahead of topping out later this year, with completion expected by 2024.

However, there has been little detail surrounding what it will look like at ground floor level — until now.

New detailed designs submitted this week with Camden council reveal a long parade of retail units “with a mix of established and growing brands” as well as a “market hall” for small businesses and “a community, education and event space that will host a changing programme of events all year round.

The tech giant is keen for their new HQ to benefit ‘not just Googlers but Londoners too’
Handout

In a blog post, the tech giant said the ”campus”, where around 4,000 people will eventually work, “will be a resource not just for Googlers but Londoners, too.”

It added: “One of the ways our ambition will come to life is via our office’s ground floor, which runs along King’s Boulevard.

“To ensure it meets the needs of our local area, we’re listening to residents’ and small businesses’ views and ideas through partnerships with organisations like Camden Giving, which works to end poverty and inequality in Camden, and local media startup Camdenist.

“We’ll continue this work to ensure the place we create is relevant and meaningful, and has a positive local impact, complementing our wider community outreach in the area.”

The building, known as KGX1 and made of timber, steel and glass, stretches 300 metres alongside railway lines south of the Regent’s Canal. The plans show a 25-metre swimming pool, a 200-metre rooftop running trail and a large sports hall with views over London.

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