Sale of RSCPA’s multi-million-pound headquarters completed

The RSPCA’s 6.2 acre headquarters in West Sussex has been sold as the charity progresses with its plan to encourage flexible and hybrid models of working.

Its Wilberforce House site near Horsham had been listed for sale at £8.47m and has been sold to Legal & General.

It will be developed into seven new warehouse units and office space totalling 100,000 square feet.

The RSPCA will relocate to smaller premises and the site will be redeveloped when Wilberforce House is vacant early in 2023.

The animal welfare charity announced that the site would be put on the market last year to as it looks to downsize and focus on flexible working arrangements.

A consultation by the charity found that the majority of the site’s 380 staff would like to work more from home in the future.

The plans involve setting up an office for staff in London for its Westminster lobbying team and for staff to be closer to other charities and potential partners, said the RSPCA last year.

The sale of Wilberforce House has been announced by Legal and General’s development partner Graftongate.

“The redevelopment of the Wilberforce House estate offers an excellent opportunity to deliver high quality industrial/logistics accommodation in an established commercial location,” said Graftongate development manager Alex Thomason.

“The property occupies a prime position on Wilberforce Way and benefits from excellent transport links, being easily accessible via the A24 dual carriageway. We expect the scheme to generate significant interest from prospective occupiers.”

Legal and General Investment Management Real Assets senior fund manager Jonathan Holland added: “On expiry of the lease, this will be one of the most valuable development sites in West Sussex.”

Other charities adopting hybrid, remote and flexible working arrangements post health crisis include Community Integrated Care, which last year introduced a four-day week for more than 300 staff, and the Directory of Social Change.

In April Parkinson’s UK sold its London headquarters to also focus on hybrid and flexible models of working. The charity will remain at the Vauxhall Bridge site for three years while it searches for new office space.