Images above CGI for the Eden Campus, Kingston. Credit: Darling Associates/Construct Media

Work on the new South London headquarters for the firm behind Dove, Magnum and Ben & Jerry's is set to begin following a £250 million deal. Consumer giant Unilever will relocate offices from Surrey to Kingston in a move set to bring 2,000 jobs to the town centre.

Developer Cube Real Estate has signed a £250 million deal with equity firm LCN Capital Partners which marks the beginning of the redevelopment of the Kingston site – known as Eden Campus. The deal means work can start on relocating Unilever's headquarters so it can occupy office buildings on the campus from early 2025.

First works on the site will include demolishing the car park with further works planned for September. Two interlinked office buildings, 115 homes and a new car park designed for electric charging, with around 360 spaces, are planned for the site. Thirty-five per cent of the homes will be affordable.

Kingston Council's planning committee granted planning permission for Eden Campus in March 2021. Cube Real Estate worked with the council to update the plans for locals, with particular focus on making the development more sustainable.

The updated plans, approved in April this year, include efforts to reduce carbon emissions during construction and a reduction in the heights of some of the office buildings.

Councillor Andreas Kirsch, leader of Kingston Council, said the scheme from the "major" employer will bring "huge opportunities" to the local economy and residents with more than 2,000 jobs coming to the town centre. He said: "I'm particularly pleased we've been able to work with the developer to further improve the green credentials of the scheme, including reducing the CO2 associated with the build, halving lorry journeys and reducing the energy requirements of the buildings."

Sebastian Munden, general manager and executive vice president of Unilever UK & Ireland, said the development would provide a "highly sustainable, inclusive, flexible workplace in the heart of Kingston" and would allow the business to grow.