Google plants its flag in London’s Tech City

INTERNET SEARCH BUSINESS Google will put some of its cash into a technology community centre in a part of London set aside for silicon wonders.

According to the Guardian newspaper the search outfit will spend multi-millions on the premises that will form part of government plans to be exciting and relevant. Details are light, and the Twitter account of Google's communications manager informs us that more will follow, so for now we must content ourselves with tidbits like it will occupy a seven floor building and will be financed by Google.

It is good news for London, of course. Facebook has its UK base in Ireland and this week Twitter also announced that it will host its local office there. If David Cameron could have enticed those businesses down to his postcodes things in London would have looked a lot more shiny. Google, which has had an office in London for years, is still a nice prize, however.

"We announced our involvement in the Tech City project last year, and we've been working hard to make this vision a reality," said Google UK engineering director David Singleton.

"Finding a suitable building is the first major step, and we hope to announce more details about the organisations we'll work with and how they will use the space in the coming months. East London is already home to hundreds of innovative British startups and has huge potential for economic growth and new jobs over the coming years." µ