Astellas Pharma to relocate UK headquarters to Chertsey

Astellas Pharma has closed a deal to relocate its base of UK operations to a new, larger site in Surrey.

In the largest occupational deal to be agreed in the south-east of England this year, the healthcare company will pay around 17 million pounds to purchase the Chertsey facility, which is presently occupied by leisure software company EA Games.

Having taken advice from Knight Frank, the firm will be leaving its 50,000 sq ft headquarters in Staines later this year and will move into the 90,000 sq ft building at 2000 Hillswood Drive, reports Property Week.

Additionally, the agreement will see Astellas take control of an adjacent development site, which is also owned by EA, with the aim of creating an additional 100,000 sq ft office development.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Percival Barretto-Ko, Astellas Pharma Europe's executive director for corporate strategy and communications, will be moving to a new role as senior vice-president for corporate strategy and government affairs at the company's US division.