Novartis joins rush of science companies moving to White City

Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis is to move its UK headquarters from Surrey to White City in west London.

It will take possession of some 54,000 sq ft of space on the second floor of the WestWorks building, part of the White City Place development that was formerly the BBC Media Village.

Around 600 staff are expected to relocate by January 2020.

Novartis, the world’s third-biggest pharmaceuticals company by market capitalisation, joins fellow life sciences companies Autolus and Synthace at the site, which is close to the new Imperial College campus.

Novartis employs 1500 people in the UK and is based at Frimley.

David Camp, chief executive of Stanhope, the co-developer of White City Place, said: “The addition of Novartis to WestWorks shows the growth of science and innovation within White City."

He added: “With the transformation of White City Place and the development of Imperial College’s new campus, White City has confirmed itself as the destination of choice for emerging and advanced life sciences companies.”