Global pharmaceutical firm set for new UK HQ at Heathrow

A global pharmaceutical firm is set to relocate to London’s Heathrow after signing a new 10-year lease.

Pharmaceutical group Merck Serono has signed an agreement with London firm M&G Real Estate to take space at 5 New Square, Bedford Lakes near Heathrow for its new UK headquarters.

Merck Serono focuses on biopharmaceuticals and is part of Germany-based pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA.

The pharmaceutical group will take the first floor of the building, covering a total of 20,655 sq ft in the business park that also houses the likes of IBM, Birds Eye, Cisco Systems and World Duty Free.

Aaron Pope, Asset Manager, Offices at M&G Real Estate, says: “Demand for newly refurbished Grade A office space in the south east remains strong, particularly at developments such as New Square, which is close to Heathrow airport and a stone’s throw from West London.

“New Square’s number of high calibre national and international occupiers highlights the draw of well-connected and specified offices for a broad range of businesses.”