Firms 'need land for modern office design' in Basingstoke

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 14-08-2009

Companies in Basingstoke have petitioned local council officials to reject plans by developers to build hundreds of new homes on land which is needed for modern office design space in the city.

Local paper the Basingstoke Gazette reported that a £300 million housing scheme has been earmarked for the former Eli Lilly and Victoria sites on Kingsclere Road, Houndmills.

However, local firms have argued that this space would be better used by encouraging businesses to expand to new modern office design space instead.

Neil Davidson, of Basingstoke firm Baker Davidson Thomas, told the paper: "There is a clear preference on their part to remain within the borough. However, at the present time, there does not appear to be anything available that is a satisfactory fit with their shopping list for the building."

Elsewhere in the region, financier Credit Suisse recently announced plans to sell its office interiors in London's Dockland district after interest in the building was raised by a group of foreign investors.

In total, Credit Suisse's 20 Columbus Courtyard offers 250,000 sq ft of modern office design space.