UCL to purchase Bidborough House from Camden Council

UCL is to buy Bidborough House near London King's Cross station. Contracts between Camden Council and University College London have now been exchanged. In due course UCL intends to occupy the building to provide space for administrative purposes allowing for the expansion of teaching space within their existing estate. The sale is expected to complete in the Autumn/Winter of 2014 when the Council vacates Bidborough House and relocates staff and services into its new building on the Argent development behind King's Cross station. Camden's new building, financed through the sale of old and expensive to maintain buildings will provide new community leisure facilities (including two swimming pools and fitness and studio suites), a public library and customer services centre, in addition to providing office space. Commenting on the purchase, Andrew Grainger, Director of UCL Estates, said: "The acquisition of Bidborough House provides UCL with significant expansion space to support our growing operations. "The purchase represents a rare opportunity to acquire an excellent building on a freehold basis close to our existing Bloomsbury campus.