The Vodafone World Headquarters is the main headquarters of British telecommunications company Vodafone within the UK.
History
In 1999, Vodafone became the world's largest mobile telecommunications company, and the UK's third-largest public company.
Vodafone decided to move to the site in 1997. In April 1999, the local council was going to refuse outline planning permission for Vodafone to build its headquarters on the site as it was a greenfield development. But, the council planning committee decided on Tuesday 27 April 1999 not to refuse, as Vodafone had threatened to leave the area altogether, and the council wanted the 3,000 jobs and had acknowledged long-term financial generosity given to local sport clubs and charities by the company.[1] The decision was passed by 10 Liberal Democrat councillors on West Berkshire Council voting with the Conservative group. The Liberal Democrats had asked Vodafone to include a £5m housing proposal, which Vodafone refused. The Liberal Democrat council leader resigned after the decision, but was later persuaded to stay.[2] The land was owned by Genevieve Fairhurst, the wife of Conservative MEP Graham Mather. West Berkshire Council has been Conservative-controlled since 2006.