Commuter towns experiencing boom in demand for office space

Commuter towns are experiencing a boom in demand for office space as more companies move towards flexible working post-pandemic. 

Areas such as Welwyn Garden City, Bromsgrove and St Albans – which have traditionally been places for busy office workers to spend their evenings and weekends before rushing back to the city – could become business hotspots, according to shared office provider IWG. 

On the map: Areas such as Welwyn Garden City, Bromsgrove and St Albans could become business hotspots

All three towns have seen demand for office space climb by more than 50 per cent in the first three months of this year over the same time in 2020. 

It comes as major City firms such as Standard Chartered have announced plans to allow staff to work from shared offices near their homes. 

Mark Dixon, chief executive of IWG, said: ‘Companies are moving rapidly towards a hub and spoke model and maintaining a central headquarters, but also empowering staff to access smaller co-working spaces, closer to their home.’