Unilever has announced its plans to move offices across London and Surrey into a new headquarters in Kingston.

The consumer goods giant, which owns Persil, Dove, Magnum and Marmite, confirmed it will move to the site on Surrey House Island in 2023/24 if the plans for the controversial new Eden Campus development are approved.

The plans, submitted by Cube Real Estate, include two-interlinked office buildings, car parking designed for electric vehicles, and a new 22-storey residential building next to the restored historic Hogsmill River.

Currently, 156 new homes are being proposed for the residential tower, of which 35 per cent will be affordable.

The move would bring together around 2,000 employees from five existing sites in London and Surrey into two office buildings.

Sebastian Munden, executive vice president of Unilever UK & Ireland, said the move “represents a rare opportunity to bring together teams in a highly sustainable, accessible and inspiring office designed for future ways of working, which will be a hive of collaboration for our employees, and for retailers, suppliers, consumers and other organisations.”

He added: “We have had a presence in Kingston for many years, but we are looking forward to being an even bigger part of the local community, and the diversity of skills that the town and surrounding areas have to offer.”

The scheme has also been welcomed by Kingston Council.

Surrey Comet:

Eden Campus - Retail At Dusk

Leader, cllr Caroline Kerr said: “Today’s announcement by Unilever is a fantastic endorsement of Kingston as a great place to live and work. It’s testament to all involved that an organisation with the international profile of Unilever is planning to expand its presence in the borough.

“This is especially welcome news at this critical time in the COVID-19 pandemic and brings huge opportunities for local employment with more than 2,000 jobs at the new town centre headquarters. This is a fantastic boost for our economy – it is a clear signal that Kingston is very much open for business and welcomes new employers to the town.

“Of course the plans need to follow the appropriate planning process and will be subject to the normal scrutiny and consultation.”

However, the height of the development’s residential tower remains controversial.

The Kingston Upon Thames Society and a number of residents have raised concerns about “over-development of the site.”

Its vice chair, Keith Payne, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in August: “It’s quite over-developed and it’s so far beyond what the planning guidance would allow that it’s amazing they think they can even get this far.”

Mr Payne highlighted that a number of tall developments have recently been proposed for the town centre, including a 17-storey tower on the Canbury Car Park site.

“The real problem with the new precedent here that we’re at risk of setting is one where they are pretty much allowed to ignore the planning guidance. And that is a really bad thing to let through,” he said.

“The society has a track record of really trying to steer development in a more respectful and sensitive scale and style and height as well.”

Just last year, the council rejected a redevelopment of Surrey House which would have seen more than 300 flats built.

Planners said it did not meet the borough’s housing need, wasn’t in keeping with the character of the area and didn’t offer suitable public realm.