Macgregor Smith were project lead for this existing business park refurbishment project in Guildford, which spanned through from initial feasibility studies to completion on site and on-going maintenance reviews.
With an ambitious brief set by our Client Legal & General, which focused on landscape as the key driver for rejuvenating the park, the project has proven to be an overwhelming success story for the positive impact a landscape-led approach can have for workplace environments.
As part of the major re-modelling of Guildford Business Park, we were asked to create a new high quality, contemporary landscape environment for the existing business park. The brief was to provide more amenity space, improve legibility and work with the architects to incorporate new park facilities such as a café with outdoor seating terrace.
The landscape design has been developed to provide a green and stimulating, yet simple and functional setting that has proven itself to be well used and cherished by employees.
We worked closely alongside Willerby Landscapes who delivered the £3.5million external re-model of the park. Over 200 semi-mature trees were planted across the park as part of the ambitious upgrade. Large, semi-mature fastigiate Hornbeams were sourced from specialist nurseries in the Netherlands, which have transformed the park, with the new striking tree-lined boulevards providing clear and pleasant green links between the park’s main parking areas and the building entrances.
Areas of underutilised car parking have been transformed into a series of colourful pocket parks with feature cherry trees, herbaceous borders and amenity lawn spaces, which are very well used by staff during the warmer months. A new café draws people to the heart of the park, with an external terrace providing a restful space for al fresco dining.
