The soaring demand for office space in Manchester is an indication that workplaces are returning to normal as lockdown restrictions are eased.
Another sign that workers are returning to the city is the number of people using the rail network, which is at 85% of normal capacity. Rush hour traffic congestion is up 10% each month.
The Department Bonded Warehouse’s flexible office space has seen more of its members returning back to their office desks after months of working from home.
Many office developments are seeing an increased interest in companies wanting to lease space. The Spring Gardens development has just one suite left, which is under offer. Meanwhile, HSBC recently signed a deal to occupy the lower floors of Landmark, a development completed in 2020 at St. Peter’s Square.
In an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, the director of policy and research at the Centre for Cities think tank, Paul Swinney, said that staff are starting to work three to four days a week in the office, but long term he predicts a return to normal five-day office working. He said that the benefits of working in the office are the interaction with people and the sharing of information that leads to new ideas.
The demand for office space in Manchester will continue to rise. There are a number of new office developments in the planning stage or under construction that will satisfy the demand for new office space in the region.
