UK property developer John Baker has announced the launch of a new venture to develop £2 bn (€2.3 bn) worth of new office space in England's South East commuter towns and outer London boroughs.
The company said it is working in partnership with building and civil engineering contractor Sir Robert McAlpine on the project which will see the delivery of some 2 million sq ft of new office space across the South East of England.
The joint venture, called The Commercial Parks Group, has already acquired £20 mln worth of property in Crawley, Haywards Heath and Bromley.
Working with Urban Infill Architects, the partnership has also received its first planning consent, for a 110,000 sq ft (10,220 m2) office redevelopment in Crawley, 10 minutes from Gatwick Airport.
The scheme is the first phase of a larger plan to regenerate an entire street of ageing commercial buildings and streetscapes on Gatwick Road to create a new business district called Gatwick Park.
In addition, the group said it has submitted a planning application for a 60,000 sq ft second phase of Gatwick Park. In total, Gatwick Park will create around half a million sq ft of new office space.
'The South East of England continues to see an influx of skilled workers seeking a more comfortable, flexible lifestyle outside of central London,' commented John Baker of The Commercial Parks Group.
He added: 'Combined with the government’s commitment to creating high quality living spaces on the outskirts of the capital, Crawley, Haywards Heath and Bromley are becoming key destinations to live and work. Gatwick Park and our projects in Bromley and Haywards Heath will create vibrant, accessible, 21st century business destinations, giving people more freedom to focus on what’s most important in their lives - whether that’s being productive at work or spending quality time with their friends and families.'
