December 18, 2011
The Italian Consulate General, advised by surveyors Harrison Leggett, is to become the first Diplomatic occupier based in the City of London for centuries after agreeing to purchase an office building from a private client represented by Farebrother.
The Italian Government has purchased the freehold of the 13,843 sq ft Harp House in Farringdon Street, EC4 for an undisclosed sum after obtaining planning consent for its use advised by CBRE.
The purchase represents a move away from the traditional location of embassies and consulates in the West End and reflects the increasing convergence of the diplomatic, legal and financial worlds.
The Italian Consulate is currently based at Eaton Place Belgravia and hopes to be in its new home by July 2012 post refurbishment.
Nigel Harrison of Harrison Leggett said “this represents the culmination of long period of work trying to purchase a new Consulate building to replace the original building which is now too small . Farringdon Street is a prestigious location easily accessible to the Italian Community across London and the large Italian Community in Bedford who can utilise the Thameslink line to Blackfriars”
