When business parks first sprang up in the late 1980s, their success was rooted in a simple formula: proximity to motorway junctions, ample car parking, and clusters of low-rise offices designed for the traditional 9-to-5 working day.
Fast forward to today, and it’s clear that this model no longer fits the way we work — or live.
Guy Parkes, Agency Partner based in our Reading office, recently spoke to Alan Bunce at UK Property Forums about the dramatic shift we’re seeing across the business park landscape.
As he explores, the successful business parks of the future won’t just be places of work — they’ll be vibrant, mixed-use communities where people can live, work, and play.
Beyond buildings: creating places people want to be
Modern occupiers aren’t just looking for square footage; they’re seeking purpose-driven environments that foster collaboration, creativity and wellbeing.
The rigid office-based culture of the past is giving way to more human-centric spaces — and with good reason.
More than 20% of remote workers now struggle with effective collaboration. That’s not just a technology problem; it’s a people problem.
The solution isn’t simply returning to the office — it’s creating places where coming together actually adds value. Business parks need to offer more than just a desk — they need to be destinations.
From utility to experience
Today’s workforce demands more. Sustainability, wellbeing, and convenience are top of mind, and the priorities that once underpinned business park success — such as car parking and road access — are no longer enough.
In fact, 69% of employees want their employers to invest in green solutions, and this isn’t just a Gen Z trend — it’s a cross-generational expectation.
That means business parks must offer greener transport links, more walkable amenities, and spaces that serve as more than just a workplace. They need to become experience-rich environments that encourage community.
Live-Work-Play in Action
We’re already seeing this shift play out across the South East. Green Park in Reading is a standout example, having integrated 1,100 new homes into the park itself. The result? Over 180,000 sq ft of office lettings this year alone.
It’s proof that when business parks embrace residential and lifestyle uses, they become more appealing — not less — to occupiers.
Contrast that with places like Watchmoor Park in Camberley, where a failure to adapt has led to low occupancy and redevelopment into warehousing. The message is clear: evolve or risk redundancy.
Basing View Business Park in the heart of Basingstoke provides both a warning and a lesson.
Back in the early 2000s, it was ahead of its time in providing on-site retail with John Lewis and Waitrose. But without a resident population to sustain them, those amenities eventually failed. Had residential been part of the mix, it could have created the critical mass needed to support a true 24/7 community.
