YRPS Insight: Edition Eight - Flipbook - Page 21
SAVING OUR
CITY CENTRES
Paul Fairlamb, Associate Commercial Surveryor, and Chris Dixon, Business Development Consultant, discuss the ongoing
conversations surrounding the future of our city centres as a result of changes to shopping behaviour and the associated impact
on retailers; as well as an increase in home working. COVID-19 has only made this issue more significant, with the need to ensure
that our town and city centres remain economically functional.
The effects of COVID-19 may well change the way we live, work and socialise permanently. It is expected that more of us may
work from home rather than at the traditional office, preferring to move away from city centres and benefit from a shift in
lifestyle; early indications suggest that a move away from large urban areas has already started. If this continues in the long
term, our towns and cities, that have been designed for office, shopping and leisure use would quickly become ghost towns. For
example. in London, the City and Canary Wharf (both major office locations) are experiencing large falls in staff working from
offices; if this continues, office accommodation will become surplus to requirements. Of course, a shift in residential trends has a
knock-on effect on the retail, hospitality and leisure industry.
There has obviously been a noticeable rise in the number of restaurants, bars and other food and drink venues represented on
the high street over the last decade, with customers choosing to visit centres for an ‘experience’. Many towns and cities have
also sought to support this with the introduction of food markets and other cultural and entertainment attractions and have
successfully done so; the Christmas Market in Newcastle being one such example. The pandemic has ensured that experiential
opportunities have ground to a halt, however, this is a trend that we have already seen return – albeit slightly differently to
adhere with social distancing guidelines – when restrictions eased at the back end of the summer. One certain way of ensuring
footfall and expenditure in any centre is, however, through a local resident population.
It is expected that European centres will combine living alongside working and shopping, but this has been less popular within
the UK over the last century. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in the number of town and city centre living
opportunities. This began with the Governments extension of the ‘permitted development rights’ to enable the conversion of
office accommodation to residential use, subject to the Prior Approval process. Whilst this relaxation has been the subject of
some criticism, in terms of the loss of office accommodation and quality of the accommodation created, it has demonstrated a
demand for urban living.
In regard to offices, we have actually experienced a slightly higher number of enquiries for office space over the last few months
than we had immediately prior to lockdown. Many companies are still assessing their ongoing needs, but there is still activity in
the market in both directions; from companies looking to acquire smaller premises due to more home working and others who
are looking for larger space to enable greater social distancing in the office.
There will be a long-term shift to even more flexible working patterns, and we believe this will lead to a mix of home working,
and the increase in working outside traditional core hours. To cater for this, offices will need to adapt to more flexible space to
allow for socially distant team meetings and training rather than traditional office layouts. Companies will look for a greater
degree of natural or mechanically ventilated space and external break out space if possible. Offices will need to feel spacious both
at the workstation and in rest areas, kitchens and toilets with clearly defined circulation areas. As well as physical improvements,
staff will also need to be reassured about the cleaning standards throughout. There will, hopefully, be less reluctance to return to
the office environment if it is safe, allowing for footfall in city centres.
There are many opportunities for our cities to evolve, and recover, post pandemic and these changes provide a host of
opportunities for businesses to emerge, as well as the property industry.
Paul Fairlamb | paul.fairlamb@youngsrps.com
Chris Dixon | chris.dixon@youngsrps.com
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