Office attendance has reached a new high. National occupancy now stands at 46.3% and has remained above 45% since mid-September. Visitor numbers are also rising.
That is positive for office use, but it does not automatically create demand for more floorspace.
AI is changing the equation. Organisations are redesigning roles, reviewing recruitment and finding ways to increase productivity without equivalent headcount growth. European Central Bank scenarios cited in the report suggest rapid AI adoption could add 0.3–0.4 percentage points a year to productivity growth.
Commuting patterns complicate the picture. Road traffic has reached around 103% of pre-pandemic levels, compared with 98% for rail and 81–82% for London Underground and bus use. When and where people attend remains uneven.
#OurSteer – Better space, not simply more space
For occupiers, the priority is to understand what the workplace needs to deliver: collaboration, learning, client interaction or focused work.
For landlords, investors and developers, rising attendance may strengthen demand for adaptable, accessible and higher-quality workplaces. But it will not benefit every building equally.
The office is getting busier. The commercial opportunity lies in making space work harder.
