Apple to set up London headquarters at Battersea Power Station

The headquarters of Apple's UK operations will be transferred to Battersea Power Station in London, with a new "Apple Campus" to replace the eight current sites it has in the capital.

The maker of the iPhone and iPad will move into the property in 2021, taking over 500,000 square feet of the area owned by Malaysian developers.

The US tech giant's European HQ is still in Cork, Ireland, despite the decision by the European Commission to order Apple to pay the Irish state €13bn in unpaid taxes.

The power station in central London was taken over by a consortium of three Malaysian companies: Sime Darby, SP Setia and Employees Provident Fund.

In a statement made to the Evening Standard, Apple said the move was a "great opportunity to have our entire team working and collaborating in one location while supporting the renovation of a neighbourhood rich with history."

London mayor Sadiq Khan praised the decision by Apple, saying it showed the city is coping admirably with the potential pitfalls that came with Britain's decision to exit the European Union.

"I am delighted that Apple is moving into Battersea Power Station‎, helping to generate new jobs and economic prosperity for Londoners," Khan said.

"It is a further sign that London is open to the biggest brands in the world and the leading city for trade and investment," he added.