Artist's impression of Google's King's Cross offices.

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Google has been given the go ahead for its massive King's Cross HQ

Plans for Google’s massive new 300m-long headquarters in London have been waved through by Camden Council’s planning permission, paving the way for work to begin on the landmark development.

The Heatherwick Studio and BIG-designed £1bn scheme encompasses 80,819 sq m of space and will house 5,000 Googlers once it is complete.

Sitting within Argent’s massive Kings Cross regeneration scheme, the so-called ‘landscraper’ will range from seven to 11 storeys across its length and will boast a three-lane 25m pool and a 200m walking and running track on its roof.

It is envisaged that the new building will combine with Google’s current King’s Cross site and a third planned building in the area to create a dedicated campus for the US internet giant of 7,000 employees in what is viewed as a significant vote of confidence in the capital’s tech sector.

In comments reported by the Architects’ Journal, Argent’s David Partridge, who is heading up its King’s Cross team, said: ‘We’re very pleased that Google’s UK HQ has been given the green light, and the team can now commence construction.

“Exceptional design and innovative engineering have created a fitting home for the Googlers, who will enjoy the culture, leisure and public spaces that King’s Cross offers.”

Construction on the site is expected to begin early next year.

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