Deciding on the optimal location for an office can be a challenging and often divisive issue for businesses.

We must first understand what is driving your search for a new office location? Beyond the obvious considerations of occupancy cost, proximity to local amenities, and travel links, what other factors should be considered which will align with future sustainability objectives?

Increasingly, employers are looking strategically into office location as a critical part of their sustainability strategies to influence the way employees travel into the office to reduce emissions associated with commuting, while enhancing employee health and wellbeing.

In this article, we’ll cover how strategic office location can go hand in hand with your ESG strategy by taking a look at the evolution of office locations so far, how we support people to select the right space and policies that can support your sustainable goals.

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Evolution of office locations

At the turn of the millennium, we saw businesses and industries looking to move to motorway junction science parks. These parks were initially seen as the way forward, with industries clustered together in spacious and rural surroundings. However, despite looking the part, this strategic move presented one major problem: the only way people could access these wonderful office spaces was by driving or getting a taxi from the nearest station, often several miles away in a nearby town or city.

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Post-pandemic reassessment

Since the pandemic, businesses have been reassessing their office portfolios, looking to reduce floor space. With a reduced floorplate demand, there is now a focus on moving back to quality - into city centres, investing in more condensed yet increased quality workplaces that cater to a adynamic variety of collaborative and focused workspaces.

This shift is also driven by the desire to locate businesses in areas well-served by local transport networks, including buses, trains, and trams. Well-developed active travel infrastructure, such as safe walking and cycling routes, also encourages employees to opt for lower carbon commutes to work.

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Benefits of strategic office locations

The benefits of strategically locating offices in well-connected urban areas include:

• ‍Reduced congestion: with more employees using public transport, walking, or cycling, the number of cars on the road decreases, leading to less traffic congestion.

• ‍Less demand for car parking: fewer cars mean less space needed for parking,  allowing more efficient use of urban land.
• Improved air quality: reduced vehicle emissions contribute to better air quality in urban areas.

• Enhanced health and wellbeing: active commuting methods, such as walking or cycling, promote physical health, while less time spent in traffic can improve mental wellbeing.

• Lower emissions: by minimising the reliance on private cars, businesses can significantly cut down the emissions associated with employee commuting.

• Reduced reliance on private car use: enhanced public transport and active travel options reduce the necessity for private car ownership.

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Supporting facilities and policies

To further encourage this transition, office spaces require facilities and policies to support employees, including:

Shower, changing, and locker facilities: providing amenities for employees who walk, run, or cycle to work can significantly enhance their commuting experience.

Sufficient bike storage units: secure and ample bike storage encourages employees to opt for cycling.

E-bike charging facilities: supporting electric bike use with charging stations can make longer commutes more feasible and sustainable.

Discounted season tickets: offering discounts on public transport season tickets can incentivise the use of buses, trains, and trams.

Cycle to work schemes: implementing cycle to work schemes can reduce the financial burden of purchasing bicycles and related equipment, encouraging more employees to cycle.

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Achieving sustainability and wellbeing goals

The strategic location of offices plays a crucial role in achieving sustainability goals and enhancing employee wellbeing. By prioritising urban locations with robust transport networks and supporting active travel infrastructure, businesses can make significant strides in reducing their environmental impact and creating healthier, more satisfied workforces. The investment in quality facilities and thoughtful policies is essential to support this transition and realise the full range of benefits.

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How do we help businesses make the right choice?

Our workplace strategy team specialises in helping businesses align their office locations and workspaces with their ESG and wellbeing goals. By leveraging extensive expertise and a comprehensive approach, TSK can assist in developing and implementing strategies that optimise office locations for reduced emissions, improved employee health, and enhanced productivity.

We use a 360-degree scoring matrix to help you understand the key drivers behind your office accommodation selection, with this information in hand, you can make an informed decision – which in turn can help unlock your future ESG objectives.

Our team provides tailored advice and guidance to ensure your new location is fit for purpose, a space that enables more fluid and flexible working, with base-build performance evaluated to ensure integrated sustainable practices, and location selection that turns kerb-appeal and ease of access into genuine magnets for staff office attendance. 

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‍Helping Direct Line Group secure a new home

After deciding to relocate to central London, Direct Line Group approached us to help define two key parameters. What kinds of work settings did they require? And how much office space did they need?

We carried out an in-depth consultation in which we analysed DLG’s data concerning post-pandemic occupancy levels, the creative needs of their teams, and their business goals. This enabled us to make evidence-based recommendations in line with their defined change trajectory.

We also helped the team source their new premises – two floors of Riverbank House, with stunning views of the Thames and The Shard.

The move to central London represents a significant downsize for DLG. Functions that had previously occupied two offices in the south are now being housed in just one building. Scaling down the combined office space of 210,000 sq ft to just 47,000 sq ft has notably reduced the carbon footprint.

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Let's talk location, location, sustainable location...

Contact TSK today to discuss how we can support you to select and create a workplace that not only meets your business objectives but also contributes positively to the environment and employee wellbeing.