MS UK to move to £60m 'funky' house

Microsoft Ltd. will shift its staff of roughly 800 to Thames Valley Park between Reading and Bracknell, Berks. in a phased move from its current, unloved premises in Winnersh Triangle. The move is expected to begin in September or October and will cost close on £60 million.

A spokeswoman said the new building will be "semi-intelligent" and more "funky" but declined to reveal specific functions. The software behemoth's Redmond, Washington "campus" facility is widely revered but UK staff have had to put up with a space west of London that has become a byword for dullness.

Another advantage of the move will be that technical support staff will be integrated with sales and marketing staff. Currently, a portion of the 500 support workers are separated from Microsoft's main premises.

Microsoft recently announced Microsoft Research, a £60 million R&D facility in Cambridge, England.