commercial property Left to right, Jonathan Mannings, Andrew Baillie, and Guy Parkes


Property experts creating RARE opportunities


Proven professionalism combined with a wealth of regional intelligence, delivered ‘on the ground’ are beneficial qualities for a winning team – and RARE has them in abundance, writes John Burbedge


Jonathan Mannings and Guy Parkes have each been involved with commercial property for over 25 years and now through RARE (Real Asset Real Estate), their independent Thames Valley-based advisory business, they are successfully helping clients to achieve better results.


Their business relationship, established as RARE in 2011, actually started in the 1990s when they worked together at Thames Valley specialist Rogers Chapman. Mannings and Parkes then went their own ways in senior management roles with international property consultants Cushman & Wakefield and JLL respectively.


The pair met again while leading agency teams based at Stockley Park near Heathrow. “We decided to make the jump from big corporate, which can be quite restrictive, to run a more focused South- East business, doing what we know best,” explained Mannings.


“We saw an opportunity to deliver a superior quality, London-agent style service, but based very much on the ground in the Thames Valley where we can be fleet of foot and responsive to client needs.”


And, they certainly are.


Their proven RARE professional credentials span:


• Finding and delivering new company headquarters for Dragon’s Den’s Theo Paphitis in Wimbledon, Chicago-based Pinnaca in Slough, and Wokingham- based Punter Southall


• Pre-letting 200,000 sq ft and transacting 750,000 sq ft of office developments for clients including Praxis, IM Properties, Abstract Securities, Boultbee Brooks RE, Vengrove and Standard Life.


• Providing ongoing corporate real-estate strategy to major companies including Waitrose, Rymans and FLUOR, plus top UK technology companies such as Semafone and Loxone.


“We’re enthusiastically obsessive in our approach to match occupiers with the right workplace. We go beyond what you might normally expect to make sure the accommodation we market ‘sings’ to the tenant.” This has even included advising on colours for light-fitting to suit a client’s target audience, Guy Parkes mentions.


That wide-ranging confidence was demonstrated this January when RARE issued its own Q1 2017 specialist report on Thames Valley and London occupancy cost differentials.


Following recent business rates revaluations some Thames Valley towns now offer occupational costs 80% lower than London’s West End core, the RARE report revealed while highlighting best value locations for occupiers and opportunities for investors and developers.


“Migration of businesses outward along the M4 and M3 is increasing, driven by cost savings, better transport connections and better access to Heathrow.


“With fewer compromises and more obvious benefits the business case for the region is now even more compelling,” RARE advises.


The expansive southeast property knowledge and experience of Mannings and Parkes, plus former west London residential development expert Andrew Baillie who joined RARE last summer, gives them a competitive edge. The freedom of RARE’s entrepreneurial business style keeping them alert and agile to local market changes, provides another.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2017 businessmag.co.uk 31


With a strong focus on digital media to assist commercial property marketing, RARE is also at the forefront of workplace transformation contributing towards employee productivity.


“The previous criteria for locating and using offices are no longer set in stone. Technology is changing workstyles; people can work from anywhere, but they have to enjoy working there,” explained Parkes.


RARE recently helped secure Reading’s first co-working space provider with Work-Life becoming a tenant of The White Building, with its exposed services and modern style.


Among other projects, RARE is currently involved with Basingstoke’s first speculative office development for 15 years at The Florence Building (60,000 sq ft) on Basing View; market repositioning of The Sector at Newbury Business Park where RARE has achieved a record pre-let rent of £24.50 per sq ft for its contemporary workplace; and 35,000 sq ft under offer at the new ‘Hive’ development at Arlington Business Park, Theale.


With ongoing urbanisation trends towards mixed-use office developments, smaller but higher-quality premises, concierge services, increased occupier densities, building efficiencies, collaborative employee appeal, and landlord fit-out, RARE is set to be busy.


ra-re.co.uk rarefind.co.uk


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