Mapp wins Frasers Property business park management role

Property management firm Mapp has won a mandate to manage five UK business parks spanning more than 3m sq ft for Singapore’s Frasers Property. Mapp will provide property management services at Farnborough Business Park in Hampshire, Watchmoor Park in Camberley, Winnersh Triangle Business Park in Reading, Maxis in Bracknell, and Chineham Park in Basingstoke from January 2020. The firm won the mandate in a tender process. A spokesperson for Colliers confirmed that the agency had been managing the Watchmoor, Winnersh and Chineham parks. Mapp founder Nigel Mapp described the deal as one of the two most significant property management mandates up for grabs in the UK this year, alongside one for Legal & General that was won by Savills.  “The intention of both was broadly the same – to really reimagine the way their portfolios can be managed,” Mapp said. Mapp believes there is an emerging “version 2.0” for the property management industry – one in which branding, placemaking and top-tier amenities are being prioritised. “It’s about engaging with the occupiers,” Mapp said. “No longer have you got a situation where the landlord knows best and says ‘this is what we’re doing and you either like it or lump it’. There will be a whole process that we go through of meeting with the occupiers and finding out what they would like on the estate.” The mission for Mapp and colleagues now will be to work with the five business parks to ensure existing occupiers are retained and new tenants attracted. “Business parks used to be quite soulless, dull places,” Mapp said. “Part of what Frasers Property has done is rebrand and reposition these parks – much more than just giving it a nice new logo. We want to build on this progress to reinforce the brand, and really strengthen the occupier engagement and community events programmes too, so that people get excited and want to associate with the brand – it’s suddenly cool to be on Winnersh because of what it does and what you can get there.” Ilaria del Beato, chief executive of Frasers Property UK, said: “Our vision is to create places where people and businesses can flourish, and occupier experience is central to that mission. “We therefore aspire to continually improve service levels for our stakeholders and customers. In appointing Mapp across our business park portfolio, we have found a strategic partner which shares our focus and commitment to delivering outstanding workspaces with vibrant and well-connected communities.” To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette