'Evening Standard' makes claims for new PRH office location

The London Evening Standard has claimed that Penguin Random House UK is “eyeing plush new offices in Nine Elms” in the Southbank regeneration area in London SW8.

However a PRH spokesperson has described this as "speculation."

The publisher announced last year that it plans to vacate its Transworld Ealing office and Penguin’s Strand location by 2020, housing all its employees instead in the existing site in Vauxhall Bridge Road and another building "ideally" within walking distance.

The Standard claimed PRH was "in early talks" with Irish property developer Ballymore and its adviser JLL to pre-let space at One Embassy Gardens, a 200,000 square-foot block featuring roof terraces. "A deal for around 100,000 square feet, which could house 500 staff, is being mooted”, said the newspaper.

A PRH spokesperson said the company “won't comment on speculation”, adding: "I can say we are focusing on securing the best possible space for our company and employees and when we have news to share, we’ll communicate directly with colleagues first.”

Ballymore declined to comment to the newspaper.

When the new office is located, staff will begin the move from 2019, PRH said last year.