62 property Orwellian Offices?


Thankfully 1984 passed without Orwell's dystopian vision becoming reality, yet we now live in an age where wearable technology and smartphones; the desire to collaborate; and increasing knowledge of how our environment affects our health and wellbeing are crashing together to move 'big brother' to a force for good, writes David Thomas, partner, Vail Williams LLP


Whether the desired innovation strategy for organisations is incremental, radical, differentiated, revolutionary or disruptive, collaboration and innovation are at the heart of bringing employees together at the right time in the right way for the right amount of time to increase those “water cooler moments”.


Headlines over the past three years have proclaimed “Sitting as the new smoking” and has culminated in a change in advice from the NHS and “Get Britain Standing.org” which is partnering with the British Heart Foundation as studies link excessive sitting with being overweight and obese, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and premature death.


There has been reference in some articles to potential future class actions against organisations that have metaphorically “chained” their employees to their desks through their expectations with regard to ways of working.


At the same time the rise of or wearable technology via smart phones or bracelets allow individuals to monitor their sleep patterns, number of steps taken and monitor weekday or weekend warrior activities enabling the user to monitor and refine their performance and the increased uptake and sales of these devices are bringing them into the mainstream.


Sale of Abingdon Business Park to Rockspring


Commercial property consultants VSL & Partners has advised Rockspring Property Investment Managers and XLB on the acquisition of Abingdon Business Park – the first single estate purchase in Oxfordshire in over four years.


Abingdon Business Park comprises 393,000 sq ft of office and industrial space across five buildings, as well as land for development. The park is currently 72% let to approximately 45 tenants including UK Mail, Orchid Cellmark and Taylor Wimpey.


XLB, which currently works on behalf of Rockspring at Cambridge Research Park, will also act as asset and development managers at Abingdon Business Park.


Rockspring Property Investment Managers, on behalf of its UK Value 2 LP fund, has acquired the business park from Standard Life Investments. The purchase price of £36.4 million reflects a net initial yield of 7.2%.


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Richard Bains, Rockspring partner and fund manager of the UK Value series, said: “We intend to capitalise on the opportunity to modernise the asset, reduce vacancy and drive rental growth through re-gearing and extending existing leases and developing the remaining land."


VSL director Tom Barton said: “This is notably the biggest investment sale in Oxfordshire for over four years and is yet another example of investors increasing their appetite for office and industrial accommodation in the county.


As the management agent, alongside XLB, Lambert Smith Hampton will work with existing park occupiers to enhance the amenity offering and create savings on occupational costs.


VSL & Partners acted for Rockspring jointly with CBRE, and Standard Life Investments was advised by DTZ.


So what happens when the above collide?


There are already apps being marketed to employees which remind you to take a break from the screen and get up and move about, perform certain exercises, or even limit daily usage, however, in the context of “sitting is the new smoking” these apps are also now being marketed at employers to actively encourage their employees to take regular breaks. In turn if these are now being offered free to employees we speculate it is to avoid future litigation.


The next natural step (which has already occurred) is wearable technology, not only tracking us to make sure we are sufficiently active but providing electronic


Major pre-let for high-tech


facility at Milton Park designed to significantly speed up decision making to drive economic development.


MEPC is developing a bespoke headquarters building of 18,500 sq ft at 155 Brook Drive at Milton Park in Oxfordshire to be leased to DC Payments, the UK division of a Canadian provider of innovative ATM products and services which has more than 20,000 machines around the world processing millions of transactions every week.


DC Payments employs 60 staff, who are currently located at two sites in Abingdon, and will relocate to the new purpose- built UK head office facility in 2016. The building will have two floors of office space and a high-quality engineering, manufacturing and testing workshop.


155 Brook Drive is an attractive site, located in the Enterprise Zone. Plans for the new building have been approved in accordance with the Milton Park Local Development Order, which is a simplified planning process


Construction is due for completion in February 2016.


Tim Wilder, managing director of DC Payments, said: “We are currently spread across two sites and wished to consolidate into one modern HQ to include office, engineering and manufacturing facilities. Our new bespoke building at Milton Park will be a superb place for our customers to visit and our staff to work.”


James Dipple, chief executive officer of MEPC, said: “We look forward to welcoming DC Payments to Milton Park and are delighted that we can help with their exciting expansion strategy. We continue with our ambitious development plans to help businesses thrive, enabling job growth and bringing more investment to Oxfordshire.”


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – SEPTEMBER 2015


evidence as to how we move through space. From that we can analyse the environment and our workplace experience.


The more information we and our employers can gain regarding how workspace is used and makes us feel can drive improvements in working environments, enhance the employee experience and influence future office design. For most it is taking the first step to making us aware of our temperature, our heart rate and our stress levels with connected devices then used to monitor employee satisfaction and productivity.


Big brother is watching you (to check you are happy, healthy and productive?).


For more information about Vail Williams LLP, visit www.vailwilliams.com


Details: David Thomas 07815-071882 dthomas@vailwilliams.com


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