Friday, 24 May 2024

Pictured: Civil servant’s £12m Manhattan penthouse funded by taxpayer

The £12m Manhattan penthouse funded by the taxpayer: UK government buys luxury seven-bed apartment in New York to house civil servant tasked with seeking post-Brexit trade deals

  • Government purchased 5,893 sq ft flat for Antony Phillipson, UK’s trade commissioner for North America
  • Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt organised sale on March 15 and is currently selling Phillipson’s former home
  • ‘We’ve secured best deal and value for money to promote UK in commercial capital,’ Foreign Office said
  • It added that penthouse, which comes with its own library, will also be used to ‘support his work to help British businesses as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America’
  • e-mail

19

View
comments

With its glorious Manhattan views and a £12million price tag, you might expect this lavish apartment to belong to a Hollywood A-lister.

In fact, the seven-bedroom penthouse will be home to the civil servant set to negotiate our trade deal with the US after Brexit.

The Government has bought the apartment for Antony Phillipson, the trade commissioner for North America and consul general, to be used when Britain leaves the EU.


This seven-bedroom penthouse, which comes with five en-suites and its own library, will be home to the civil servant set to negotiate our trade deal with the US after Brexit 


It boasts glorious Manhattan views and comes with £12million price tag – paid for by ‘Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’, New York City records show


Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt arranged the purchase of the 5,893 sq ft flat which occupies the whole of the 38th floor of 50 United Nations Plaza, a 42-storey block near the UN headquarters


The 550ft (167m) skyscraper was developed by the Zeckendorf family and Eyal Ofer, a Monaco-based Israeli property billionaire. The building has high security, including a 24-hour gated entrance


The Government bought the apartment for Antony Phillipson (pictured), the trade commissioner for North America and consul general, to be used when Britain leaves the EU

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt arranged the purchase of the 5,893 sq ft flat which occupies the whole of the 38th floor of 50 United Nations Plaza, a 42-storey block near the UN headquarters in Manhattan.

According to New York City records, ‘Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ bought Penthouse 38 for £12.03m ($15.9m) on March 15.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: ‘We have secured the best possible deal and value for money on a property that will help promote the UK in the commercial capital of our largest export market and trading partner.


The apartment boasts five ensuite bedrooms, with the master bedrooms featuring a marble bath, a shower and a steam room, a swimming pool (shown) and its own library


The property offers spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline (pictured). Its kitchen is equipped with technology ranging from a high-speed oven to an ice maker and a wine cooler

‘As well as being the consul general’s residence, it will also be used to support his work to help British businesses as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America. We are in the process of selling the consul general’s current residence.’

The apartment boasts five ensuite bedrooms, with the master bedrooms featuring a marble bath, a shower and a steam room.

The floorplan also shows two ‘staff bedrooms’ but it is not known whether Mr Phillipson will be hiring staff.

  • Owner of sprawling £48m palace on the French Riviera is told… Thought you were broke! Boris Becker lives in a £5million…

Share this article

The kitchen is equipped with technology ranging from a high-speed oven to an ice maker and a wine cooler.

The property even has its own library, The Guardian reported.

The 550ft (167m) skyscraper was developed by the Zeckendorf family and Eyal Ofer, a Monaco-based Israeli property billionaire. The building has high security, including a 24-hour gated entrance.


The Foreign Office claims it has ‘secured the best possible deal and value for money on a property that will help promote the UK in the commercial capital of our largest export market and trading partner’


The floorplan also shows two ‘staff bedrooms’ but it is not known whether Mr Phillipson will be hiring staff

A spokesman for Zeckendorf Development and Ofer’s Global Holdings Inc said: ‘We are de-lighted with this full-floor penthouse sale to Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.’

Mr Phillipson joined the civil service in 1993 and served as director of trade and partnerships in the Department for Exiting the European Union until November 2017, when he moved to the US.

It will be his responsibility to encourage dignitaries worldwide to sign trade deals with Britain when it leaves the EU.

Source: Read Full Article

Related Posts