Dell departs the Thames Valley

Dell, one of Bracknell’s largest remaining tech companies, has closed its doors for the last time as it prepares to sell its former EMEA head offices through Cushman & Wakefield.

Following its acquisition of EMC Squared, the firm’s UK operation had begun to focus increasingly on EMC’s offices in Brentford, leaving the Bracknell offices surplus to requirements.

The move follows the loss of other technology companies in the Thames Valley which have either significantly reduced their floor space or closed their doors altogether in the region.

Hewlett Packard, which had head offices adjacent to Dell, closed in 2018, following the sale of its laptop business to Lenovo.

And following the merger between O2 and Virgin Media last year, the latter moved from Hook to Green Park and there remains a question mark over whether O2 will retain its 250,000 sq ft of predominantly office space in Bath Road, Slough.

Jonathan Mannings, managing director of Thames Valley specialist property consultancy RARE, said: “It’s quite sad to see so many TMT occupiers either leaving their traditional home in the Thames Valley or significantly downsizing.

“However, it creates opportunities for new sectors, particularly the film and life sciences industries to expand in the region so it’s a renaissance rather than a collapse of demand.

“Lettings such as the anticipated acquisition of over 20,000 sq ft at Here + Now (at Thames Valley Park) by Isotropics who were formerly based in serviced offices in Reading, is a good example of new industries expanding in the Thames Valley.

“And it sustains confidence in the new developments that are under construction such as the exemplary new scheme at Station Hill which will deliver 275,000 sq ft in its first phase, scheduled for completion in 2024.

“If a substantial proportion of that scheme is not let well before its practical completion, I will be very surprised.”

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