Australian Suburban Business Parks to Follow Direction of Europe

Colliers international chief executive eastern office Rob Joyes says Australian business park developers are realising the more services and facilities available to businesses and their staff, the more attractive they become to tenants.

“European business parks are now offering these sorts of facilities along with supermarkets, residential precincts, banks, conference and catering facilities and extended in-house amenities such as shower/change rooms and chill out/meditation areas.

“This is the future. It’s a holistic approach to business parks with the aim of providing all of those services a business and its staff could expect from a CBD or downtown location but at a cheaper price, closer to home, and more easily accessible by public transport.”

Developers including Goodman and MAB Corporation are jumping on board with projects under construction in Melbourne.

Goodman’s Chifley Business Park in Mentone will include a cafe, gym and child care centre, while MAB Corporation’s $1 billion University Hill project in Bundoora will include a medical centre, bank and child care centre.

Cafes, gyms, health clubs, convenience stores and childcare facilities were common to Australian-based development group Goodman’s circa 30 mixed use business parks across Europe.

Mr Joyes says demand for well serviced business parks has increased in recent times as the unemployment rate declined, and the demand for skilled staff grew.

“The competition for skilled staff is now a worldwide phenomenon and as the world becomes a more homogenous place the competition for the best workers will intensify.

Mr Joyes said climate change and the need to create an environmentally friendly workplace was also now a major consideration for business park developers.

“These parks are now very well landscaped and are very aware of their carbon footprint.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.