Khan Considers Move out of City Hall

London’s government could move from City Hall as part of an effort to fill a £500 million black hole in the capital’s finances.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said the central London building cost £11.1 million a year in rent paid to Kuwaiti-owned landlord St Martins, and other charges.

He has set out plans to move to the Siemens-owned Crystal building in the Royal Docks near City Airport in east London.

The Norman Foster-designed City Hall was constructed at a cost of £43 million and opened in 2002. The lease for the building was granted in 2001 for 25 years, but allows for a break in the contract after 20 years, in December 2021.

The Mayor believes the current rent is above market value, with the figure set to rise to £12.6 million after December 2021.  He had said that leaving the current building would save £55 million over five years.

Has he considered the Civic Centre in Haringey? Only one careful owner.