Milton Park has emerged as one of the innovation powerhouses of the United Kingdom. With more than 6,500 people working there for 160 companies, collectively it is one of the largest employers in the county.

But such a vibrant facility requires support, not least in the form of accommodating the range of contractors, staff on short-term contracts and the many corporate visitors it attracts. And that is where Millbrook House is ideally placed, in the village of Milton next door to the park.

A former school, it now offers flexible accommodation for those needing comfort and convenience on the doorstep, without any ties.

The Glazebrook family first came to Millbrook House in 1963 when Mr Glazebrook's father, Hugh, bought it from a Colonel Bryceson. Hugh Glazebrook ran the school until he died in 1991, and his son took over the reins helped by wife Helen, who took on the domestic side from her mother-in-law, Margaret.

At the time the school had about 85 pupils, aged between 10 and 13, most of whom were studying for their Common Entrance exams needed to get them into top public schools such as Eton and Harrow. It also had 22 staff.

But a change in the entry requirements and intakes of public schools had an impact and pupil numbers started to dwindle, despite notable past students including the Queen's nephew, Viscount Linley.

By September 2003, the projected roll had dropped to just five pupils and the difficult decision was taken to shut its doors for good.

Mr Glazebrook said: "I decided it was time for a change, but at the same time we did not want to move, so we decided to try and make best use of our premises."

They came up with the idea of self-serviced accommodation which could be used for flexible lets, mainly by business people visiting or on short-term contracts at Milton Park.

"People coming to the area do not necessarily want to live out of a hotel. They prefer the freedom of their own accommodation," added Mrs Glazebrook.

The Glazebrooks hired Harwell planning consultant Stuart Lilly, who helped them negotiate the planning consent on the buildings, although the listed farmhouse which dates back to the 1750s has remained as the family home.

The result is seven self-catering short-let apartments fashioned from the classrooms and dormitory accommodation which are available from one night to several months.

Other people using the apartments are those who have sold their house and are waiting to find their next property or for building work to be completed.

Again, the flexibility of not being tied to a six-month rental agreement has proved attractive.

It cost about £130,000 to make the transformation, but the costs were kept down considerably by the fact that Mr Glazebrook did much of the labouring work himself, having always been handy. The only tradespeople required were an electrician and a plasterer. And with Mrs Glazebrook handling the cleaning and changeover of the flats herself, labour costs are still being kept to a minimum.

The flats have been open for just over a year and Mr Glazebrook has now taken to calling them Phase One' as the couple have planning permission for Phase Two'.

This will involve two more blocks of seven apartments and the rebuilding of a barn to house a further four bedsits. They anticipate these too will be fully occupied, given the current level of demand they are experiencing.

Their plans have been delayed considerably thanks to their home becoming a victim of last year's floods, which saw 15 inches of water gushing into the ground floor.

Despite quickly realising what was happening and managing to get valuables upstairs, sentimental items such as family photographs were ruined.

That disaster timed with the official opening of the apartments, which fortunately escaped, because they stood on higher ground. Otherwise, the Glazebrooks could have faced the prospect of having two years' work undone.

As it is, the insurance claim was for more than £100,000, and the couple lived upstairs. Even now the builders are still hard at work.

"We needed to be on-site to run the apartments and in fact we have been concentrating on the business." said Mrs Glazebrook.

"When the builders have gone, hopefully we can give a bit more time to the house and get some painting done."

Meanwhile, the school gym has been refurbished and the Glazebrooks' daughter, Chloe, 21, a sports massage therapist and personal trainer, has set up a studio to run her own business. Once again, Millbrook House is a hive of activity as it moves with the times.