U.S. Embassy to Move!

Hello everyone! It has been a very long time since I last posted on the Pen-London. School has taken over all aspects of my life. However, the blog is still going to be alive (especially once I graduate out of school in May), and I several items I would like to post about when the time comes.

In the meantime, however, I thought I would post this for those who are currently in London or planning a trip to London in the future.

The U.S. Embassy is planning on moving its location. It is currently situated in Mayfair near Hyde Park and Oxford Street; however, it going to move to the south London’s Nine Elms area in Wandsworth. Nine Elms is located south of the Thames and west of the Vauxhall Bridge Rd and the Vauxhall tube station.

Here is the October press release from the embassy:

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION
Press Release
02 October 2008
U.S. Takes First Steps Toward Embassy Relocation

Meeting the challenge of providing a modern, open and secure American diplomatic facility in London, the U.S. State Department today signed a conditional agreement with the real estate developer Ballymore to acquire a site in the Nine Elms Opportunity Area in Wandsworth for the construction of a new Embassy.

“This has been a long and careful process,” said Ambassador Robert Tuttle, who has led the search for a new site. “We looked at all our options, including renovation of our current building on Grosvenor Square. In the end, we realized that the goal of a modern, secure and environmentally sustainable Embassy could best be met by constructing a new facility. I'm excited about America playing a role in the regeneration of the South Bank of London.”

A design competition will ensure the new facility reflects the best of modern design, incorporates the latest in energy-efficient building techniques, and celebrates the values of freedom and democracy.

This is an initial agreement conditioned on the approval of the United States Congress and local planning authorities. The existing Embassy building will be offered for sale almost immediately. However, it is still possible that the Embassy will remain at the current location if for whatever reason the site acquisition and acceptable planning consent do not materialize. The global real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield is advising the Overseas Buildings Operations Bureau (OBO), which directs the State Department's worldwide facilities program, on this project.

Sean Mulryan, Chairman of the Ballymore Group, said of the decision, “We are delighted the United States Embassy has chosen to invest in our Nine Elms project. The new Embassy will serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of the area.”

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Members of the media may direct enquiries to presslon@state.gov

This is also available via the web at the following URL: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ukpapress84.html

There is also a BBC News article about the planned move and provides a nice insight of why they are moving: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7649184.stm

As this is in the beginning stages, the embassy is still located at Grosvenor Square at the following address:

24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 2LQ
United Kingdom

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact or visit the embassy. Here is a schematic map of its location. You can also GPS or Google the location by using the address. Please make sure that the postcode W1A 2LQ or else you will be taken to a post office station!

For life or death emergency involving a United States citizen call [44] (20) 7499-9000. A Consular Duty Officer is available 24 hours a day.

Hope this bit of information is helpful in anyway. If anyone has concerns about traveling abroad, please read my post about Being Safe Abroad. Happy travels!