What is BREEAM Certification? Sustainable Office Design in London

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A low-angle daytime view up at three towering skyscrapers in the London business district. The buildings are modern with glass facades shining with a turquoise hue under a cloudy sky. Modern London office buildings are leading the way when it comes to sustainable office design, many attaining Excellent or Outstanding BREEAM ratings. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

In the London commercial real estate market, sustainable office design is no longer a trend, but a defining factor. With growing pressure from regulatory requirements, corporate ESG commitments, and changing tenant expectations, demand for green office spaces has never been higher. As a result, businesses and landlords are rethinking their approach to office space.

One of the key ways they’re doing this is through BREEAM certification, which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. Originating in the UK, BREEAM is a guideline for sustainable building design that is now accepted as a gold standard the world over. But what exactly does BREEAM involve, and why does it matter for landlords and occupiers in the London office market? Let’s take a look at how London offices are going green through this accredited standard.

The Green Shift in London’s Office Market

The demand for sustainable office spaces in London has surged in recent years, driven by stronger enforcement of corporate responsibility schemes and stricter government regulations, such as Net Zero Commitments, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Requirements, and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).

This has caused a shift in how commercial real estate is valued. For example, Grade A offices are now exclusively comprised of those that meet green criteria. As a result, landlords are prioritising green features that improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and create healthier working environments.

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London Commercial Space Trends

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A daytime view from the median strip down a central London two-way street towards the 30 St Mary Axe building, popularly referred to as The Gherkin, peeking above other buildings in the distance. Other skyscrapers rise alongside the street, which also contains moderate traffic going both directions, with two of London’s iconic red double-decker buses heading away from the viewer and two coming towards the viewer. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

The London commercial market has entered 2025 on an upswing. After a period of uncertainty due to changing remote and hybrid work arrangements, occupiers are displaying renewed confidence, driving demand for both premium office spaces and flexible workspace options. 

If you’re planning to set up an office in London, or want to upgrade your office space within the city, you’ll want to know how the capital’s office market is evolving this year. In this article, you’ll find an overview of the key trends across the London commercial real estate landscape.

Snapshot of the London Office Market

Take-up volume and rental rates on the rise

2025 started on a positive note for the London office market, after registering the second highest take-up volume of the last five years and a strong upward trajectory in rental growth rates for Grade A offices.

Renewed interest in large office units

So far, nearly 90% of all transactions involved offices under 25,000 square feet. At the same time, leases for large offices of 75,000 square feet and above are back on the table and at their highest levels since 2019. Appetite for larger office floor plates is mostly driven by lower interest rates that are increasing liquidity in the budgets of occupiers.

London leading in data centre space

Market analysts are drawing attention to data centre space, as new supply is expected to reach all-time high in 2025, and London is emerging as one of the main global hubs for data centre space.

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Return to Office: UK Workers Surveyed About RTO Mandates

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A close-up view of the bottom halves of three smartly dressed colleagues walking across the white lines of a pedestrian street cross-walk to go to work in the morning. The two men on the right carry soft leather briefcases and wear long black coats, and the woman on the left has a large shoulder bag and wears a long grey coat. The woman on the left and the man on the far right of the three have lanyards with their work IDs visible hanging down from their necks, and the rear of a yellow car is visible parked on the side of the street behind the woman and to the left. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

Survey Summary: UK Office Workers’ Perspectives on Returning to the Office

Five years after the onset of the pandemic that transformed the world of work, the dynamics of office life are still getting readjusted. According to a 2024 survey, more than 80% of British chief executives foresee a full return to the office within 3 years – but how do employees view this? 

To find out, we polled 400 office workers of private and public sector employers on this hot topic and asked about their preferences and concerns as they transition from remote work back to the office. Here are the key findings.

Who’s Actually Back in the Office?

Our UK survey reveals that a majority of respondents (57%) have returned to the office on a part-time or hybrid working basis at their employer’s request, while 43% are back full-time. These figures confirm that in-person office work has taken over remote work as the new normal, although there’s a substantial shift towards flexible models. 

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Office Christmas Party Ideas: Not the Traditional, Boozy ‘Do

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A woman in a warm knitted top looking toward a tall and wide Christmas tree in the middle of a city square at night. The tree is covered with white fairy lights, and gold and red baubles are scattered around the branches. Groups of people mill about between the woman and the tree. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

Cringe-worthy karaoke and awkward situations – this seems to be the main theme of the average Christmas party in many offices. Unsurprisingly, a 2021 survey found that 1 in 10 Brits would rather avoid attending Christmas party activities because they didn’t want to embarrass themselves, and in many cases, alcohol is to blame. 

But something is changing: UK businesses are moving away from the traditional office Christmas party and replacing boozy ‘dos with more inclusive celebrations. For this article, we surveyed 70 companies to find out how they’re innovating and switching from office parties with a booze-fuelled format to something genuinely enjoyable for everybody. 

Let’s take a look at the findings of this survey – you might find some interesting ideas on how to plan this year’s Christmas party.

The shift towards more inclusive holiday celebrations

The main issue with celebrations that centre around alcohol is that some employees feel left out. Gen Z, which will soon account for 30% of the workforce, are known for consuming less alcohol than Millennials, and many don’t drink at all. Also, with London being such a diverse city, it’s very likely that almost every office will have someone from a different cultural background. 

This is why many businesses now opt for alcohol-free gatherings during the festive period. As some of our respondents said when asked about their alternative Christmas event ideas, there’s no need to force outdated traditions. And when events align with employees’ values, engagement naturally follows. At the end of the day, people choose what speaks to them. So, read on to learn about some of the more inclusive and non-traditional work Christmas party ideas that are gaining traction in workplaces across industries.

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The Most Haunted Places in London, England: Office Buildings Edition

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A nighttime view of a woman standing at the end of a bridge looking towards Big Ben and the Gothic spires of Westminster Hall and the House of Lords across the river. The sky is dappled grey and sheets of rain are pouring down. The primary light sources are Big Ben’s lit clock face and the antiquated light post with three lantern-like lights lit to the woman’s left. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

London isn’t only a city steeped in history; many of its buildings are surrounded by an aura of mystery and dark forces. In fact, even some of the city’s modern office buildings are said to be haunted places. If you’re an employee working late in certain London offices, you might have more than your workload to worry about! Let’s take a look at some of London’s most haunted office buildings, where ghosts might also be coming to clock in.

1. Fenchurch Street – EC3

Offices in Fenchurch Street range from listed buildings to modern landmark towers that will surely impress clients and visitors. But some people might not realise that office buildings in Fenchurch Street are just half a mile away from the Tower of London, one of the city’s most infamous haunted spots. 

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Gen Z in the Workplace: A Comprehensive Guide

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A team of six Generation Z employees in smart casual attire sit around a large wooden desk having a meeting. Some of them have their laptops in front of them, and others have note-taking implements. The room they are in is well-lit with natural light, and many pot plants adorn shelves along the whitewashed walls. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

Generation Z has begun to populate the world’s workplaces, and business leaders must adapt to meet their unique needs and expectations. This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how to attract, retain, and inspire Gen Z workers in your organisation.

As the workforce continues to evolve, so too must the strategies of those who lead it. With Gen Zers—the cohort born between 1997 and 2012—starting to truly take their place in the professional world, it’s time to rethink traditional workplace norms. This generation is unlike any before it, and understanding their motivations is crucial for business leaders who wish to build a dynamic and forward-thinking company.

Understanding the New Generation

Generation Z is entering the workforce with a unique set of values shaped by their experiences. Unlike their millennial predecessors, who often emphasised a good work-life balance and job stability as must-haves, Gen Z brings a fresh perspective driven by digital fluency, social consciousness, and a desire for meaningful work. There are approximately 12.7 million Gen Z individuals living in the UK, making up around 19% of the population, and this generation is already making a significant impact on the workplace. As of 2022, there were 4.3 million Gen Zers in employment, making them the third-largest generation in the UK’s labour force.

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The Benefits of Having Plants in the Office

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A daytime view across the inside of a modern, open-plan office space with a polished concrete floor, chrome pendant lights hanging from the ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows letting in muted sunlight, probably from an overcast sky. Indoor plants are arranged artfully in round bronze-coloured pots next to the rectangular white columns that rise to the ceiling in the middle of the workspace, and workstations are arranged next to the windows. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

In recent years, there has been a significant shift towards prioritising well-being in the workplace. As time goes by, businesses have a better understanding of how the environment impacts employee health and productivity. In a 2021 survey, nearly 70% of executives rated well-being as a top priority for their organisation.

As a result, many companies are increasingly focusing on their office workers’ quality of life, creating office spaces that support both physical and mental well-being. One of the most popular and effective ways to increase productivity and improve different measures of workplace satisfaction is by incorporating plants in the office, as we will see in this article.

The Physical Benefits of Indoor Office Plants

Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, creating an oxygen-rich environment and improved air quality. Previously conducted laboratory studies by NASA have shown that plants can filter out volatile organic compounds and other harmful toxins present in plastics, inks, cleaning products, and some types of insulation.

Indoor plants can also regulate humidity levels. According to the HSE, low humidity is one of the causes behind sick building syndrome. Offices often suffer from dry air due to temperature control, heating and air conditioning systems and layouts that interfere with airflow. Plants draw water from the roots to their leaves, releasing moisture into the air and helping maintain optimal humidity levels. 

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Cycling to Work in London: Bike-Friendly Office Locations

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An office worker wearing warm, dark clothes, a grey backpack, and a black helmet rides a white road bike along the side of the road past a London bus stop shelter and a glass-fronted shopfront. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

Cycling to work has become increasingly popular in London. We haven’t got to the point of cycle superhighways, yet, but the number of daily bike trips has been growing since 2021, and there are plans to extend the cycle lane network so that by 2030, 40% of Londoners will live within 400m of a cycleway.

To accommodate this growing trend, many offices are becoming more bike-friendly by providing various amenities for cyclists.  In this article, we’ll explore what makes an office bike-friendly and highlight some of the best bike-friendly office locations in London.

What Makes a Bike-Friendly Office?

Regular exercise is good for mental health and physical health. And by deciding to cycle commute to work, you’re also contributing to reducing air pollution. A bike-friendly office supports and encourages cycling through various features and amenities, such as:

  • Secure bike storage: Offices should provide safe, secure, and easily accessible bike storage areas to ensure cyclists can park their bikes and cycling equipment with peace of mind.
  • Showers and changing facilities: To accommodate employees who cycle to work, offices should offer clean and well-maintained showers and changing rooms. Or at least spacious enough bathrooms to change into work clothes.
  • Repairs stations: Having on-site or nearby bike repair stations equipped with essential tools can be a significant convenience for cyclists.
  • Cycle to Work scheme: Offices that participate in the Cycle to Work scheme offer financial incentives for employees to purchase bikes and cycling gear.
  • Bike maintenance workshops: Regularly scheduled bicycle maintenance workshops help employees keep their bikes in top condition and promote a cycling culture at work to increase uptake among those yet convinced.
  • Bike-friendly routes: Offices located near dedicated cycling lanes or routes encourage more employees to cycle to work. In London, there are approximately 223 miles of marked cycle ways.

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London Office Market Report 2024

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A daytime view of the top half of Big Ben clock tower in London framed by a brilliant blue and white cloud-strewn sky. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

The London Office Market in 2024 – At a Glance

The central London office market continues to shift in line with previous years’ trends, such as generalised downsizing due to hybrid work arrangements, a flight to quality, and a limited development pipeline. Although the first quarter of 2024 showed evidence of a slowdown in activity, this slow start of the year isn’t concerning considering that the market ended 2023 on a five-year high.

Here are some key indicators that summarise the status of the London office market in 2024:

– Total take-up levels were 2.47 million square feet in Q1, vs. 2.1 million square feet during the same period in 2023.

– Vacancy rates city-wide have increased to 9.5% in Q1 2024, vs. 8.9% in 2023.

– Lastly, the amount of office space under construction also remains stable, with 15.86 million square feet in 2024 vs. 16.75 million in 2023.

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Office Design Trends in Central London Office Space

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A businessman in a white collared shirt sits by himself on a modern black-and-white chair, looking towards long, diagonal windows that let bright sunlight stream in high up in an office building. There is another matching empty chair to his left, as well as a tall indoor plant in a black pot. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

London’s dynamism, vibrant culture, and thriving business ecosystem have earned the British capital a reputation for being a global leader in cutting-edge design. This characteristic is also reflected in the city’s office spaces, which are often at the forefront of interior workplace design.

In this article, we take a look at the latest, top office design trends that London-based corporates are embracing in their offices.

London: A hub of innovation and creativity

London offers unparalleled opportunities for companies seeking expansion and success. Its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and access to top talent make it an ideal base for growth-focused businesses. This is one of the reasons why there are nearly 90 corporate headquarters located within the city’s boundaries.

In many of these corporate workspaces, innovative and inspiring office design trends are being adopted and setting an example of how the office of the future should look like. Let’s look at the different ways in which they’re achieving this.

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