Nestle has confirmed it is leaving Croydon after 47 years.

The food giant announced this morning it is moving its UK base from St George’s House in Park Lane to a new office in Crawley.

A statement from Nestle said it had undertaken a multi-million pound investment programme to “establish its next generation of world class manufacturing and office facilities in the UK”.

The company, best known for its coffee and chocolate, said it had tried to find a new location in the borough but blamed a lack of redevelopment of St George’s Walk or any other viable locations.

The multinational announced in 2010 it was looking outside the borough and today it announced it had found its new offices at City Place in Crawley.

The Swiss firm said it would be relocating its 840 office based employees by the end of 2012.

Paul Grimwood, Nestlé UK & Ireland Chairman and CEO, said: “This move represents an exciting new chapter for Nestlé in the UK.

“We are investing across the UK to establish our next generation of world class facilities.

“Our new head office will provide a modern, efficient and attractive workplace for our people, in an ideal location.”

One Nestle employee who did not wish to be named said: "People seem ok about it, i think they are trying to figure out how they are going to get there.

"One of the main concerns is whether there is going to be any compensation for the extra travel costs, I guess time will tell."

An internal email, seen by the Croydon Guardian, said Nestle would hold a presentation for staff in Croydon and York on Tuesday about their new head office.

It added there would be "face to face briefings" to explain the timetable of the move and answer employees' questions.

City Place, built in 2002 and only a short distance from Gatwick Airport.

Legal and General Property confirmed today it had purchased the building from RREEF for £39m, had completed the surrender of BT’s lease on the property and simultaneously agreed a new 20-year lease with Nestlé UK.

It boasts “large floorplates, energy efficient heating and cooling, and stunning architecture” as well as its own gym and restaurant on site.

Croydon Council has expressed its disappointment at the decision, saying it did everything it could to keep the company in the borough.

It said it had been willing to buy the vacant buildings from Nestle as well as offering other incentives, and had been in talks with Nestle over redeveloping the area.

The council said its main aim was to keep as many residents' jobs secure as possible despite the relocation.

Council Leader, Mike Fisher, said: "We are obviously very disappointed that Nestlé has decided to leave the borough after more than 40 years.

"We have done everything we possibly could to avoid this outcome, but ultimately we have to respect the fact that Nestle are a footloose global company and can choose where they locate their business.

"We must now re-double our efforts to accelerate the regeneration of the town centre to ensure it is an increasingly attractive location for potential inward investors.

"We already have great transport links.

"Now we must focus on improvements to the public realm and enabling high quality residential and commercial developments to come forward at pace."