The Dutch government is set to move its London embassy to Nine Elms near Vauxhall, accelerating the creation of a major new diplomatic quarter south of the river.
It has purchased a site close to the US embassy, which is relocating from Grosvenor Square — and others are expected to follow.
The embassy of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands is based at 38 Hyde Park Gate but its government has decided it needs to move to save money. A Dutch embassy spokesman said: “I can confirm we will sell our current building as it is too big and not suitable for modern diplomacy. The sale will contribute to government cuts going through at the moment.”
The new site in Nine Elms was bought by the previous Dutch administration although a final decision about the location of the new embassy has not yet been taken, he said. In a statement, the Dutch government’s property advisers Cushman & Wakefield said: “One of the drivers for a relocation to Nine Elms was for the RKN to be part of the exciting regeneration and transformation of this area of London.”
Mayor Boris Johnson welcomed the potential move saying it would underline “the growing attraction of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea area as a prestigious destination for international investment and development”. It is believed the Chinese government is also considering a move from Portland Place in the West End to Nine Elms. According to Property Week magazine, it is in talks with the Royal Mail about taking part of the 13-acre South London Mail Centre site close to the new US embassy building.
Other London sites are also thought to be on China’s radar, including Earl’s Courts and Wapping, but few are big enough to accommodate such a large requirement or close enough to central London. There are more than 180 embassies and High Commissions based in London, the vast majority centred on the West End and Belgravia, Kensington and Chelsea.
Soaring London property prices mean that some are now hugely valuable assets for their parent countries.
The £600 million US “glass cube” embassy is due to be completed by 2016. It is expected to be an anchor of the “new South Bank” stretching between Battersea and Vauxhall and including the £8 billion Battersea Power Station development.
