The British Council for Offices today said office utilisation has stabilised at 66%, down from its long-held 80% benchmark, enabling the industry forum to update its guidance as the sector prepares for a "critical shift".
The office sector forum has published new research which it says underlines a "fundamental shift in how UK offices are used, with major implications for developers, investors and occupiers".
The report, authored by Nigel Oseland of Workplace Unlimited, finds that the long-standing benchmark of 80% office utilisation is no longer fit for purpose. Its "post-pandemic data" suggests a more realistic, but conservative, it says, figure of 66% equating to an effective density of 15 square metres per occupant, up from the previous 12.5 square metres.
The BCO says the change reflects a maturing flexible working model that ensures organisations are able to right-size their space, reduce waste and improve the experience of employees. It points to high-profile organisations in financial services and the public sector that are under the spotlight at present for what it terms "space misalignment".
The organisation has relied on sensor data, observation studies and swipe card access records from across the UK as the basis for its report.
The report finds that the change in office useage "redefines the amount of space needed per person".
Mid-week peaks dominate of office usage, with Tuesday to Thursday occupancy averaging 40% in UK offices, compared with 30% across all weekdays.
Corporate occupiers are leading the return, with desk usage 13% higher than in the public sector. Regional offices are outperforming London, with desk utilisation around 7% higher outside the capital. The finance and legal sectors show the highest engagement, with above-average space utilisation.
The BCO points out that its findings have significant implications for office design and infrastructure planning. Firstly, while escape routes are fixed by legislation at 6 square metres per occupant, services like lifts and toilets are based on assumed maximum occupancy. The report suggests providing services via incremental modular units and mothballing floors or deactivating surplus toilets and lifts, to mean operational costs work in tandem with actual usage.
The report also finds that low-density, high-utilisation offices are more sustainable than high-density, underused spaces. It says this balance not only reduces energy consumption but also supports employee wellbeing and workplace satisfaction.
“This shift in utilisation isn’t a setback. It’s a signal,” said Nigel Oseland, author of the report in a statement. “Organisations now have the opportunity to design smarter, more agile workspaces that reflect how people actually work today. A well-utilised, lower-density office can not only be more sustainable – it can also be more productive, more engaging and better aligned with employee needs and expectations.”
The report aims to provide guidance for occupiers and landlords navigating the changing trends and calls for updated benchmarks and more consistent terminology and metrics to inform future office design, fit-outs and sustainability strategies.
Eric Chong, director of research and policy at the BCO, added: “This report lands at a critical moment. As organisations rethink their space strategies, the data offers vital clarity to help ensure the sums add up. But beyond the numbers, it’s about understanding how today’s workforce – the customers of the office market – actually use their workspaces. Misjudging utilisation is costly, leading to wasted space and poor user experience. This insight helps the sector make smarter, more agile decisions that reflect how people really work – and what they truly need from the office.”
Established in 1990, the BCO is the UK’s principal forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector.
Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring, or occupying office space, including architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions, or public agencies. The BCO terms its work as helping to improve the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space.