SCO Plots: Shaping New Gurgaon’s Commercial Landscape at Intersection of Connectivity and Design

By Vishal Sabharwal

Gurgaon, September 26, 2025: New Gurgaon is decisively emerging as the city’s next big commercial frontier. What was once seen primarily as a residential extension is now taking on a sharper identity, driven by the rise of SCO (Shop-Cum-Office) plots. These flexible, mixed-use spaces are not just creating room for businesses, but reshaping how commerce blends with community.

Anchored along NH-48 and strengthened by the promise of the Dwarka Expressway, New Gurgaon sits at the crossroads of connectivity and opportunity. A dense residential base already thrives here, creating a ready-made consumer and workforce ecosystem that fuels commercial momentum. Add to this seamless access to Cyber City’s corporate pulse, IGI Airport’s global gateway, and the premium catchments of Golf Course Extension Road, and New Gurgaon positions itself as both business-ready and customer-ready—a commercial landscape designed to thrive on movement, access, and scale.

At the centre of this transformation lies the SCO format that brings an uncommon degree of freedom to commercial real estate. Unlike conventional malls or office towers bound by fixed layouts and shared controls, SCOs offer freehold ownership, full ground coverage, and flexible approvals up to B+G+4. This means one space can seamlessly evolve from a retail outlet to an office, a restaurant, a showroom, or even a clinic, depending on demand. For investors and entrepreneurs, it’s this blend of ownership autonomy and functional adaptability that makes SCOs the new magnet in New Gurgaon’s growth story.

Besides, office real estate in NCR is witnessing record-breaking momentum, with leasing activity touching an all-time high. Knight Frank reports a 27 per cent year-on-year growth, with Gurugram commanding nearly 65 per cent of the total office take-up—a sharp 900 bps jump over last year. Much of this surge is anchored in New Gurgaon, where occupier demand continues to climb steadily. From corporates and IT/ITeS players to co-working operators seeking scale, the corridor’s appeal lies in its affordability paired with unmatched connectivity.

In the commercial front, the Indian retail industry started 2025 on record strength, recording an all-time high of 2.4 million square feet (msf) of leasing during Q1, up 55 per cent year-on-year, as per the C&W report. Leading the charge was the sheer dominance of high streets, which took close to two-thirds of the overall demand, indicating a definite retailer shift towards main streets and malls. The report highlighted that, in particular, Delhi NCR saw strong traction with 17 per cent (0.41 msf) of the total share of leasing, led by strong demand in prime submarkets and a year-on-year growth of 57 per cent.

Carrying this momentum forward, SCO developments in New Gurgaon are being envisioned with a focus on design, experience, and utility rather than just square footage. Wide walkways, landscaped courtyards, and open-air lifestyle spaces encourage social and commercial interactions beyond transactions. At the same time, tech-ready infrastructure ensures that businesses of every scale can operate seamlessly. Practical amenities such as dedicated parking, power backup, and lifts are complemented by lifestyle add-ons like food courts, gyms, and event zones, transforming these hubs into vibrant destinations. This integration of functionality with experience elevates both tenant appeal and customer engagement, making SCO’s future-ready commercial ecosystems rather than mere real estate assets.

Moreover, the upcoming cloverleaf interchanges and sustained infrastructure upgrades are set to transform accessibility, ensuring seamless movement across Delhi-NCR. With large residential clusters in proximity, these hubs are naturally positioned to attract consistent footfall, giving businesses the advantage of a ready-made customer base. For investors, this translates into more than just rental yield, offering the dual assurance of steady recurring income and capital appreciation.

Together, these factors underscore why SCOs are not just another real estate trend, but a defining force in New Gurgaon’s evolution. By combining flexibility in usage with strategic placement at the heart of connectivity, they are shaping destinations where commerce, lifestyle, and community converge. As infrastructure projects mature and design innovations continue to raise the bar, SCO hubs are set to stand at the forefront of Gurgaon’s next decade.

The author is Head of Sales at the Orris Group