I read with interest that the City of London is leading the quest to “earn the commute”, calling for a reimagining of offices to provide a better workplace experience and attract occupiers back to the office.

Toby Pentecost is senior vice-president at Trammell Crow Company

As a leading developer in commercial property in the UK, we are seeing regional markets increasingly becoming worthy contenders, no longer playing second fiddle to the popular capital office hotspots.

In our view, successful developments anywhere show that today’s occupiers expect more from their workplace. They demand efficient, sustainable offices, of course – but they also want them to be a destination in their own right, exuding quality, supporting wellbeing and cultivating community spirit. There are now exemplary projects in the regions that are raising the bar for all.

The popularity of creating exceptional workspaces in the regions is reflected in investment transaction volumes, with the 10 main regional UK office markets reaching £993m in the first nine months of 2025, according to a report by BNP Paribas Real Estate. This is an 8% year-on-year increase, with interest from overseas investors rising, too. The report notes that “the definition of ‘prime’ has tightened, resulting in less stock ticking the right boxes, meaning the right stock in the right location can provide potentially compelling risk-adjusted returns”.

Flight to quality continues

Across all markets, the difference between high-quality, grade-A, sustainable assets and subpar performers is becoming more pronounced, and is reflected in supply-and-demand dynamics. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s Regional & South East Offices Q3 2025 report, office take-up across Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and the South East totalled 1.44m sq ft, 5% higher than the previous quarter. Grade-A space made up 72% of this, with several of the key regional markets also seeing headline rent growth resulting from the constrained supply of top-grade space.

Across the country, the future looks bright for best-in-class stock in the best locations

The best performers prioritise factors like city centre locations with excellent connectivity, and align with the highest sustainability, wellbeing and social credentials. Strategies for workplace design are transforming to attract people back to the office, with a focus on the community and amenity aspects becoming ever more crucial.

Sustainability, amenity and community

Bristol office: the Welcome Building has strong sustainability credentials and excellent amenities

In a landscape defined by ongoing competition for talent, a JLL survey reveals that social interaction, collaboration, connectivity and culture are all cited as the top reasons people would spend time in an office. What’s more, workspace design is being affected by organisations’ own drive to be more ESG compliant – with more than 70% prepared to pay a premium for workspaces with strong green credentials.

This is what we focused on at our 207,000 sq ft Welcome Building in Bristol, delivered in partnership with Tristan Capital Partners. We decided early on to meet the very highest standards – the building has achieved an EPC ‘A’ rating and a NABERS UK ‘five-star’ target rating for energy efficiency, and is targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification. The occupiers we have secured, including Hargreaves Lansdown (marking the biggest Bristol city centre letting since 2019), DAC Beachcroft and Unite Students, were all attracted by this commitment to sustainability.

We also focused on community and amenity. The ground floor is dedicated to a social, meeting and collaboration space with all the quality markers of a high-end hotel. Amenities include WELL Building Standard ‘Platinum’-rated cycling and spa-like shower facilities that encourage and facilitate a greener, healthier commute and a free-to-use gym. The office floors, the largest available floorplates in the city, can all flex as occupiers’ needs evolve.

We expect more regional investment and the creation of exceptional grade-A stock to entice occupiers into other areas of the UK. Across the country, the future looks bright for best-in-class stock in the best locations, where demand will only grow and supply will need to keep up, whether through new developments or the repurposing of existing stock. What is becoming abundantly clear is that regional offerings are giving London a run for its money.

Toby Pentecost is senior vice-president at Trammell Crow Company