Virgin Media moves UK HQ to Reading

Virgin Medial has picked Mapletree’s Green Park Business Park in Reading, Berkshire, as its new UK HQ, taking 120,000 sq ft at 500 Brook Drive.

The move comes as Mapletree readies the next phase of speculative development at the 195-acre Green Park, with plans to develop 228,000 sq ft of office space across two buildings at 400 and 450 Longwater Avenue.

Virgin Media currently has UK head offices in Hammersmith, west London, and in Hook, Hampshire.

It will join other international occupiers at Green Park, including drinks giant PepsiCo, Chinese tech company Huawei and defence firm Thales.

The business park, which Mapletree acquired from Oxford Properties in 2016 for £563m, has more than 60 firms, employing more than 7,000 people.

Rory Carson, vice-president of asset management, UK, for Mapletree at Green Park, said: “These are very exciting times for Green Park, which will enter its next phase of growth to meet the demand of tenants.

“These stunning new offices will attract the most dynamic talent and businesses, which want to work in a great environment. Our investment to start 400 and 500 Longwater Avenue shows our commitment both to the park and Reading as the epicentre of the Thames Valley.”

Cushman & Wakefield and Campbell Gordon advised Mapletree. CBRE advised Virgin Media.