BCO conference considers the future of UK cities
Andrew Carter, chief executive of the Centre for Cities, which launched a new report entitled ‘Making the Grade’ at the The British Council for Offices annual conference in Manchester this week, says smaller UK cities are sometimes turning down opportunities for economic growth as a result of their limited or under-used office space. He has called on the office development industry to help fast-developing, smaller cities such as Reading and Aldershot to understand and manage their office stock, so that they can capitalise on potential business opportunities.
The report finds that, despite strong demand for offices, “some of our most successful cities have not seen large increases in the supply of office space”. It explores patterns of office development by looking in particular at office space in Bristol and offices in Manchester, and comparing these with the markets for office development in two smaller cities – Cambridge offices and York office space – to gain a better understanding of how it differs in these places. The report is free to download here.
The journalist and broadcaster Matthew Parris also spoke at the BCO conference, and suggested that it was London’s success as a global centre that was draining regional UK cities of the vital lifeblood for growth – but he also recognised the overwhelming trend towards city-based development. Parris said: “In what’s being called the “post-digital age” the world of work is moving into and staying in cities. People work better together in close proximity which allows for greater connectivity and productivity. The office needs to be the beating heart of any city – it is the city in miniature.”
To coincide with the BCO conference, Savills has conducted a survey of 1,400 office-based businesses in Manchester to find out what are the most important factors to occupiers when choosing office space in Manchester. Surprisingly, occupational cost came only fifth on the list – behind comfort of work space, public transport access and proximity to clients.
Savills asked those surveyed whether rising fuel prices would affect future decisions in terms of office location, given the importance of public transport access in their answers – and 27% of respondents agreed that it would.
James Evans, office agency director at Savills, comments: “Public transport access has become an increasingly important factor for businesses in Manchester which, combined with the concern of rising fuel costs, could indicate a trend towards centralised locations, particularly for those larger corporate companies with no geographical loyalty. We are already seeing the likes of Bupa and Jacobs, who both have significant live requirements, considering the relative merits of an in-town versus out-of-town location.”
