BP moving offices in Surrey and London to new HQ

BP says it is leaving its offices in Sunbury in Surrey and St James's Square in London.

The company is set to move to new headquarters at Timber Square in Southwark in 2028.

A senior member of Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC), which owns the site in Sunbury, where it is thought about 1,800 staff are based, says the company will be "sadly missed".

A BP spokesperson said the move would help the firm to "work smarter and faster"

SBC says BP still has time remaining on its leases at the Sunbury site and, under the terms of the different agreements, the company remains responsible for all rental and lease commitments.

Lawrence Nichols, who is chair of the commercial assets sub-committee, told BBC Radio Surrey the council is concerned about the impact on the local community.

"They've been a great employer, they've been great for the borough, and (BP) is going to be really sadly missed and I hate to describe them as irreplaceable but it's going to be very difficult to fill the gap when they go," he said.

In a statement, Joanne Sexton, the leader of SBC, said: "This news is unexpected, but I want to reassure our residents and local businesses that we will take a measured approach, working with BP and expert advisors to explore options that benefit our community, support local employment, and make the best use of this key site."

A BP spokesperson said: "We are taking steps to build a simpler, stronger and more valuable BP, including bringing our teams and leaders closer together.

"This office move will help us to work smarter and faster, strengthen decision-making, and create more opportunities for meaningful, in-person collaboration."

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