Unilever celebrated reaching the highest point of build for the new company campus last week with partners and Kingston representatives.  

Unilever was joined by the Mayor of Kingston, council leader Andreas Kirsch as well as Cube Real Estate and McLaughlin & Harvey, the partners responsible for the campus vision, on top of the new building.  

Richard Sharp, Head of Unilever UK, said: "This Campus will have global significance for Unilever, being home to around 2,000 employees but, more than that, it will be an iconic site for Kingston and for London." 

Construction on the Campus began in October 2022, following demolition of the former hippodrome site in the summer.  

The three Campus buildings, which will be occupied by global FMCG company Unilever for its global and UK headquarters from 2025, have each reached their maximum height, and installation of the glass façade has begun. 

Kingston's Tall Building policy has a maximum height of 78m, which currently includes three buildings in the borough: the CI Tower, the Apex Tower and the Tolworth Tower. 

Although a celebratory moment for Unilever and partners in reaching the top of their construction, debates about the campus' height has not been straightforward. 

The Kingston Society raised concerns in November 2020 stating: "None of the approved "tall" building locations identified in the Eden Quarter Development Brief are situated in the Development site which states heights are to be limited to 6-8 storeys I.e., below 30m.  

"The proposal in this outline application for a tall building does not comply in any way with this expectation. Due to its design, height and location it would conflict with applicable planning policies on the location and design of tall buildings.".  

It was acknowledged in the planning process the height and massing of Eden Campus tower would cause substantial harm to the setting of Kingston Old Town Conservation Area and the historic setting under the National Planning Policy Framework.  

However, in 2021, it was decided part of the campus' residential block would be reduced from 22 storeys to 16, at a maximum height of 62.36m.  

Unilever Campus build. (Photo: Supplied)

The Unilever Campus comprises three buildings: an eight-storey office building on Eden Street which has two link bridges to another 10-storey office building on Brook Street.  

On St James Road, there is also a multi-storey car park for 350 cars and 490 bikes, with full electric charging, as well as a landscaped roof garden.  

Jonathan Lawes, Director at Cube Real Estate, said, "Topping out [the formal completion of a building by attaching its highest structural feature] is always a milestone to be celebrated on any development but to be able to celebrate this one now through the challenges we have faced is a fantastic achievement and a credit to the whole team."  

Meanwhile, leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch hailed Unilever's investment as a "huge vote of confidence" in Kingston, projecting over 2,000 jobs and economic growth for the town centre.  

"I'm particularly pleased we've been able to work with the developer to further improve the green credentials of the scheme, including reducing the CO2 associated with the build and reducing the energy requirements of the buildings," he added. 

Unilever first opened an office in Kingston in 1954.