Mark Jones is partnerships manager at Destination Basingstoke. He has worked in Basingstoke for 27 years, including 13 years as editor of The Gazette and eight years as director of communications and fundraising at Ark Cancer Charity.

'Basingstoke has long been a great place to be in business – and it’s heartening see that one of the centres of the business community is once again a jewel in the crown.

Basing View helped to put the town and borough on the map when the business park was created in the 1960s and 1970s, but as the new century got into its stride, many of the gems in the crown were looking rather tarnished.

Fast forward to 2024 and Basing View is very much a different landscape – and once again it has a real buzz about it.

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A picture from the launch event at PLANT – a milestone development on Basing ViewA picture from the launch event at PLANT – a milestone development on Basing View (Image: Mark Jones) Over recent years, a series of high-quality developments have sprung up on the business park, complementing others that have stood the test of time, and the result is impressive and headline-making for Basingstoke.

The latest milestone development on the business park was showcased and celebrated last week with the official launch of PLANT.

Following a landmark £30million regeneration project, Longstock Capital and Mactaggart Family and Partners have boldly blazed a trail by breathing new life into the former Wiggins Teape commercial headquarters.

The launch of PLANT in Basing ViewThe launch of PLANT in Basing View (Image: Mark Jones) This stunning building will be the new home for the Basingstoke-based Automobile Association, and there will no doubt be many other companies keen to make PLANT their place to be.

The revitalised gardens – there are now 13 of them on the six-level site – host over 22,500 new plants, and 86 additional trees have been planted to support those already established in the grounds. This is just part of the reason why this iconic building will be a beacon of sustainability on the M3 corridor.

Well done to Longstock Capital, Mactaggart Family and Partners and all the other businesses that have helped to put Basing View back on the business map, and also to landowner Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council where consensus politics over many years has been a key factor behind this game-changing revival.'