Chineham Business Park gives workers what they want

Office workers are increasingly looking to build exercise into their daily routines. Those who adopt active lifestyles are now demanding more from their office environments. One of the most popular requirements is for proper shower facilities to enable people to freshen up after cycling to work or jogging at lunchtime.

Equipped with a shower on every floor and cycle racks located directly outside the back door, the design of Central 40 at Chineham Park has created an environment suited to the requirements of today’s office worker. The facilities are also of benefit to those who wish to use their lunch break to go for a run around the woodland surrounding Chineham Park, as they are now able to freshen up on their return to the office.

Rupert Batho, managing director of Chineham Park, said; “When planning the design specifications for this new building, we wanted to ensure it would give future occupiers the facilities they need and want for a comfortable working environment. The provision of showers and cycle racks at Central 40 will allow the occupier a hassle-free workplace as all the facilities they need are on hand.”

Knight Frank and Hollis Hockley are MEPC Chineham Park’s appointed letting agents.

Chineham Park bus service weathers the snow storm

Heathrow Airport was closed, the M1 motorway was shut and businesses across the South East were complaining about the transport chaos. Chineham Park, however, still had a full bus service running every day as normal throughout the bad weather that has seen a large proportion of the UK’s workforce grind to a halt. Both complimentary buses kept to their timetables and offered a hassle-free option for workers at Chineham Park.

Wendy Fletcher, Travel Coordinator for MEPC Chineham Park explains, “Our bus service has been applauded for its environmental impact but in weather such as we all experienced this week, it shows that the bus service can be more reliable than most other transport links. Thanks to the dedication of our drivers our bus service kept Chineham Park open for business through the worst snow storms for two decades. We had masses of calls on Monday to ask if the service was running and we were able to assure all our occupiers and their employees that there was a safe and dependable transport option.”

The service operates every 15 minutes during peak times throughout the day between 07h15 and 18h30, shuttling people working on the Park to and from Basingstoke Train Station, undertaking 160,000 passenger trips in 2008.

Capita Business Services sign up to Chineham Park’s refurbished Cedarwood scheme

Capita Business Services, a trading division of Capita Group Plc, have acquired a lease on a building totalling over 12,000 sqft at MEPC’s Chineham Park, making a successful start to 2009 for the property company, following a number of key lettings achieved last year within Basingstoke’s flagship business area.

Capita, have taken a lease on 100 and 200 Cedarwood immediately following the completion of refurbishments. Capita’s requirement relates to the Gas Safety Register contract which the Business Services division recently secured from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Capita Business Services will be responsible for the registering of all approved Gas Safety Installers, validating qualifications and inspecting gas work as part of this major contract.

Rupert Batho, Chineham Park’s Managing Director said: “The decision to progress with the phased refurbishment of the Cedarwood building, in order to bring it up to date for the modern occupier has been vindicated with an effective pre-let to a major Plc. We look forward to a productive relationship with Capita at Chineham over the forthcoming months and years”.

He added: “2008 was a very successful year for us and the Park has gone from strength to strength. This year we will continue to build on the successful formula of providing our occupiers with all their property and amenity needs that are essential to their staff, on the right commercial terms. ”.

Peter Eldridge, Managing Director of the new Gas Safety Register service at Capita expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition saying: “It made a lot of sense to house the staff in the Cedarwood buildings immediately following the refurbishment. Many of the staff are locally based and familiar with the business park. The timely delivery of these refurbished buildings with the commencement of the Gas Safety Register contract, combined with the flexibility of the accommodation, made the decision a straight forward one for us.

Andrew Newman of Hollis Hockley who advised Capita Business Services commented “Capita are extremely pleased to have secured this building on competitive lease terms. Chineham Park offers all the amenities that most of the Capita staff will be familiar with, together with fully refurbished premises with a very generous car parking provision.”

Knight Frank and Hollis Hockley are MEPC Chineham Park’s appointed letting agents.

Offices To Let

Talaris opens new HQ at Chineham Park

Talaris, the leading provider of cash handling solutions to financial institutions and retailers worldwide, celebrated their move to a new corporate headquarters on Chineham Park by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and champagne reception in the newly renamed Talaris House.

The event was attended by the 80 employees based at the new premises and guest of honour Mike Loftus, Chairman of Destination Basingstoke, who welcomed the team to their new office space. Mike commented: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Talaris to their new headquarters here at Chineham Park, where I wish them every success.”

Tracey Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Talaris, went on to say: “It is a great privilege and pleasure to base our corporate headquarters in Basingstoke where we join a thriving business community at Chineham Park, amongst other successful and well respected companies. We see our move here as the start of a new era and a new beginning for Talaris.”

Tracey was presented with a framed photograph of the new building by Jo Szegota, Asset Manager for MEPC Chineham Park, before cutting the ribbon to officially open Talaris House for business and inviting all of the employees and guests inside to enjoy the champagne reception.

Festive Red Man Unveils Chineham Park's Newest Offices To Let

Christmas has come early to Chineham Park as one of their famous Red Men pays a festive visit to unveil Central 40, the newest building and the largest new office space in Basingstoke.

The 40,000 sq ft new building is now available to be let and to ensure it continues to spread Christmas joy to its new occupiers throughout the New Year, the building was designed specifically to optimise workplace flexibility, reduce energy consumption and minimise running costs.

Central 40 is the only local building to comply with the latest building regulations, featuring solar heated water and an innovative air-conditioning system that will allow the occupier to use up to 30% less energy per annum, assuming normal office use, compared to a traditional 4-pipe fan coil air conditioned building. Even the lights in the building are on a timer system to ensure they are not consuming energy when not needed.

Rupert Batho, managing director of Chineham Park said: “Central 40 is the largest new office building to be built in Basingstoke since 2002 and has been certified with a “Very Good” BREEAM rating, making it a very exciting addition to the Park. It is now available to let and we are anticipating a high level of interest from potential occupiers.”

For more information, visit www.central40.co.uk

New Offices To Let for Basingstoke

CENTRAL40 is a 3 storey office building designed to the highest standards. The office is principally clad with glazed curtain walling and has been designed specifically to optimise workplace flexibility, reduce energy consumption and minimise running costs.

The offices are provided over three levels, with the a feature double height reception. The building’s construction and the innovative air cooling system ensure that maximum energy and space planning efficiency can be achieved. Other features which create an excellent overall working environment include LG7 lighting, rain water harvesting, shower facilities on each level, solar heating water to common areas, and an intelligent building management system.

SPECIFICATION
CENTRAL
0 Double height reception area
0 1x17 person passenger lift
0 Down flow comfort cooled air conditioning system
0 Full access 300mm raised floors
0 LG7 Lighting to office areas to achieve 350 lux
0 1800mm planning grid
0 3.0 kN/m2 (3 + 1.0) floor loadings
0 Building management system
0 Access Control System
0 Male and Female WC, disabled and shower facilities on each floor
0 150 Car parking spaces - ratio 1:274

MEPC Chineham Park wins Sustainable Business of the Year

They were awarded the title for the many initiatives they have introduced to the Park, including a car-sharing scheme, Share & Care. The scheme allows users to locate other people working at Chineham Park who make the same or similar journey to work each day and then arrange to share lifts, saving up to an estimated £2,930 in travel costs and a massive nine tonnes of CO2 each year.

Rupert Batho, managing director for MEPC Chineham Park, said; “We are delighted to have won the Sustainable Business of the Year category and it is especially rewarding to be recognised for this amongst the local business community. In addition to our car-sharing and recycling schemes we have implemented on the Park, five of our buildings have recently undergone refurbishment, enabling them to meet the sustainable needs of future occupiers and our newest office developments, South 60 and Central 40, incorporate the use of solar energy, rain water harvesting and an innovative air conditioning system, allowing the occupier to use up to 30% less energy per annum.”

L-R: Rupert Batho, managing director, and Richard Hawkes, estates manager, collect the Sustainable Business of the Year award.