In 2021, Meta committed to a 20-year term at One Triton Square, an eight-storey office block near Regent’s Park, London. At the time, it was seen as a positive sign for UK business as the tech giant signed off on a further central London lease (Meta already had 57,700 square metres of office space across two sites in King's Cross).
But last week, with 18 years remaining on its lease and without a Meta employee having stepped into the office, the company cancelled its contract, paying a reported £149m for the early exit.
Explaining the decision, a spokesperson for the company said: “The past few years have brought new possibilities around the role of the office, and we are prioritising making focused, balanced investments to support our most strategic long-term priorities and lead the way in creating the workplace of the future.”